This was an interesting book with a lot of depth of character. I felt the author was very authentic with how her characters would react to life changing circumstances, but some of their traits were a little over done. Much like life I suppose. I was a tad disappointed in the ending because I like to know what happens to all the characters, and I flipped the last page stunned to see I was at the end. What happened to everyone? Again, that is probably personal preference. Intriguing read.

I plodded my way through this book all the way to the end, hoping for closure and/or some other revelation about what the characters learned through their traumatic experiences. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and I thought the ending was a bit abrupt in terms of the storyline, though appropriate given the nature of the events happening over the course of a long weekend. As others have said, I didn't particularly like any of the characters, and so I was a bit disengaged right from the start. Not a book I would recommend to others.

I hated this book. The characters bothered me to no end. It's not often that I dislike a book this much. I wouldn't recommend this read to anyone.

A truly gratifying read, one to add to the list of favourite contemporary family sagas. Thoroughly enjoyed its melancholic tone, and without overreaching for comparisons-its Chekhovian setting and direction of event that unfold over the weekend. Glad to have discovered Heidi Pitlor's talented prose, will no doubt look for her other novels!

I was really looking forward to reading this book because of the storyline but I was disappointed. The first day was like two thirds of the book. The other two days was rushed. We were in the main characters minds of them trying to sort things out but in the end there is no resolution. I don't think they still know what to do or of what's to come. But I guess you can't expect resolutions in 3 days. And I still don't know why it was called The Birthdays. It was just the father having a birthday.

If you want a book with the worst most horny men, a book with the most useless women (except you Hilary the only saving grace my queen) then this book is for you! If you want boring mess of a family that never has ANY big blow out outside of a passive aggressive family dinner then this book is the book for you! And if you want a book that makes you ask “ma’am are you alright” because why are you describing women, men, and marriage like this? This is the book for you!!!
I hated it. Bro has never seen a pregnant lady ever, the quirky tumblr girl descriptions were KILLING me at the beginning, and the worst crime. It was boring.

Maybe because I knew Heidi Pitlor in middle and high school, I couldn't help wondering about her personal life while I was reading this. This novel was a little depressing.

too bad 0 stars isn’t an option…terrible book

stuck with it but regret doing it, found every character awful and extremely annoying

I shouldn't have bothered with this one. So uninteresting are the characters and relationships in this book and yet I kept reading with the hope something would spark. I couldn't even read the last couple chapters and just skimmed to the end to get done.

I really really liked this novel. A weekend in the life of a family on the brink of the new generation, it was sensitive, insightful, fun, traumatic, heartfelt, moving, difficult and above all an enjoyable read. I can picture myself alongside the family on their beach house. Just my kind of book.

think its going 2 b ood