This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Kelly Allen
The Shine children – Tara, Vee, Niall and Damian – have always had it easy. Their parents, Gus and Joan, have worked hard all their lives to make this possible.
One day things take a turn for the worse and the children are gathered together for a shocking announcement. The family business is falling apart and there is no money left to keep everyone afloat. Some things have to give and Gus suggests several ways of making cutbacks, to his children’s absolute horror.
The children all go in different directions and race through different emotions and thoughts in the aftermath of the news. Over the course of time, each person re-evaluates their life, their situation and what it really means to take care of yourself and finally grow up.
I found this book very easy to get into and the family were introduced gently. However, there are a vast number of characters in the book and sometimes it can be hard to keep up. I enjoyed a lot of the dialect; it really brought to life the setting of the book and made the characters stand out as individuals.
I liked Tara immediately, who really stood out, and her initial integrity made a huge impact on my feelings towards a stranger. Joan and Gus were very also intriguing throughout – their witty banter and kind and gentle attitude towards each other was pretty immeasurable.
For me, this novel is about family, current affairs and respect. It delves into different worlds to give the reader an array of experiences. It is a very good book to read, especially if you are a fan of Rachael English’s writing.7/10