I started this book three times before actually getting hooked and finishing it. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors, but this is not my favorite book by her.

I felt truly sorry for Allie and the difficult situation she was going through. She was completely devoted and deeply in love with Cam, yet he failed to return her infatuation. It was heart-wrenching to see her longing and disappointment. On the other hand, Mia was rather annoying and selfish. Her actions and attitudes often made it hard to sympathize with her. However, Angus was truly awesome! He added a touch of charm and authenticity to the story. Jamie, too, had a broken heart. Despite the fact that what he was asked to do could potentially land him in jail for the rest of his life, he still did it. His sacrifice and loyalty were both admirable and tragic.

Overall, it's a good book. It manages to get you thinking at least. It makes you reflect on the complex relationships between the characters and the difficult choices they have to make. While it may not be Picoult's best work, it still has its own merits and is worth reading.

The last Jodi Picoult novel I delved into was My Sister's Keeper, and that was approximately 9 to 10 years ago. Eager to explore more of her literary works, I reached into my TBR jar, and this particular book was the first one to be drawn out.

It began on a promising note. A woman afflicted with terminal cancer is euthanized by her husband, Jamie, out of mercy and at her own request. Jamie then turns to his cousin, the Chief of Police, for assistance. Stories that revolve around an individual's right to a decent quality of life and the autonomy to make such a momentous decision have always held a certain allure for me.

The segments that centered on Jamie and his wife were by far my favorite. They provided a fascinating peek into their life and marriage. However, the narrative predominantly focused on Cameron, the Chief of Police, his own marital woes, and the arrival of a new woman in town. Frankly, I couldn't stand Cam and had little interest in his storyline. I yearned for more of Jamie's tale, and when I finally did get a bit more, it was rather anticlimactic.

Regrettably, this book was undeniably a let-down upon my return to Picoult's writing.

This book is not among Jodi Picoult's best works.

Some of the characters come across as petty, selfish, and egotistical individuals. Surprisingly, the character that the book is supposed to be centered around is very seldom mentioned.

When he is mentioned, it is only briefly, and then the story quickly moves on.

I had initially thought it would be a truly engaging story about a genuine moral dilemma. However, a significant amount of time is dedicated to the adultery and the justifications provided by the two characters involved.

Despite this disappointment, I will still give another one of her books a try.

Usually, her books are very good and make you wonder, "What if?"

Her writing has the power to make readers think deeply about various complex issues.

I hope that the next book I read by her will live up to my expectations and provide a more satisfying reading experience.

Okay, so I really, truly liked this book. I have an absolute adoration for Jamie. The reason being that he is so deeply and desperately in love with Maggie, and it just tears at my heartstrings. I also sort of have a liking for Allie. There are several things I like about her. For instance, how she selflessly helps Jamie and Graham. Her good-hearted nature is truly endearing. Also, her extensive knowledge about flowers is quite impressive. However, there are also things I dislike about her. Her husband is one of them. I find her weird worship for him rather off-putting. And the fact that she stays with him even after he cheated on her is just mind-boggling. His mom even said that once a cheater always a cheater!

The worst part of the book, without a doubt, is Cam and Mia. I mean, seriously, after just one and a half days, they claim to be in love or soul mates? I highly doubt that. It's ridiculous to think that Allie would ever stay with him. If Mia hadn't left, he would have been with her for sure! It's all very irritating.

But overall, despite these flaws, I really liked the imagery and symbolism that the author used in the book. They added depth and a certain charm to the story.

I am an extremely huge fan of Picoult. However, this particular one, Mercy, left me feeling a bit disappointed.

I didn't think the characters were as charming and endearing as those in some of her other works. They seemed to lack that certain something that would make me truly care about them.

Moreover, the so-called big, shocking twist didn't really have much substance to it. It didn't have the impact that I was expecting and failed to really wow me.

Nevertheless, I do have to give credit to Picoult for her ability to continuously bring up and discuss such controversial issues within the pages of her novels. This is something that I truly admire about her.

But if I were to recommend some of her novels, there are definitely others that I would suggest before Mercy. There are those that have more engaging characters, more thrilling plots, and more impactful twists.

Cameron Macdonald the fifth is the police chief in a small town called Wheelock. He is also the leader of the original Scottish clan that settled there, although that's not what he desires. He had aspired to be a travel writer. However, when his father passed away, he had to assume the position of police chief, just like his father, grandfather, and other ancestors before him.

One day, two new arrivals in town completely颠覆 Cam's world for two distinct reasons. The first is Jamie Macdonald, Cam's third cousin. He shows up with his deceased wife Maggie in the passenger seat of his car and confesses to killing her. Jamie had ended Maggie's life after a long battle with terminal metastatic breast cancer, at her request. She was tired of feeling out of control and knew the cancer would claim her life eventually. It's an act of love, but it's still murder. Jamie is arrested and later released on bail pending his hearing. Interestingly, even though Cam is the one who arrests his cousin, he also hires him a lawyer, as he understands the complex circumstances of the case and is conflicted about whether Maggie's death was right or wrong.

The second newcomer is a girl named Mia. She takes a job at Cam's wife's flower shop and catches Cam's attention. Mia's parents were so deeply in love with each other that they often neglected her. As a result, she is quiet and unassuming. But for some reason, when Cam meets her, he feels a sense of familiarity. As they get to know each other better, they discover that they have been within sight of each other at least twice in the past but never met. When Cam's wife leaves town for a few days to assist Jamie with his court case, Cam and Mia admit their feelings for each other and start an affair. Once again, this is a story about right and wrong. Cam knows it's wrong to cheat on his wife, but he also feels it's wrong not to be with Mia, whom he realizes he loves.

The two storylines in this book are intertwined effectively, and the similarities are evident. Jamie loved his wife enough to grant her wish, but can Cam do the same? Will Jamie be convicted of his wife's murder, despite her request? This book is a truly enjoyable read. You can't help but empathize with the characters as they navigate through these difficult times. You also find yourself eager to know what will happen, what decisions each character will make, and what the ultimate outcome will be. I didn't anticipate this book to be so engaging, but after reading it, I'm certain that I will pick it up and read it again in the future. It's definitely worth buying.

This book truly left an abundance of questions unanswered.

The most exasperating aspect of it all was undoubtedly the Mia, Cam, and Allie situation. Cam and Mia were said to have fallen in love at first sight and were completely smitten from the very beginning. They desired nothing more than to be together. Cam was even entirely willing to leave Allie for Mia. However, right after their weekend getaway, Mia simply left. And then, Cam wanted to just resume things as they were with his wife?

Moreover, Allie took a mere two minutes to forgive him for cheating on her? What on earth? This book was truly a disappointment. It failed to provide satisfactory resolutions to the numerous plotlines and character developments. The lack of depth and coherence in the story made it a frustrating read.

Overall, it left the reader with a sense of dissatisfaction and a feeling that the author could have done a much better job in tying up the loose ends and creating a more engaging and believable narrative.

Que desilusão...

This simple phrase encapsulates a profound sense of disappointment. It's that feeling when expectations are shattered, and hope fades away.

Disillusionment can strike in various aspects of life. It could be in a relationship, where the initial sparkle has worn off, and the reality doesn't match the dreams. Or perhaps in a career, when the promised opportunities don't materialize, and you find yourself stuck in a rut.

But despite the pain of disillusionment, it can also be a catalyst for growth. It forces us to reevaluate our beliefs and assumptions, and to look for new paths and possibilities.

We may learn to be more realistic in our expectations, or to find strength and resilience in the face of disappointment.

So, while "Que desilusão" may bring a sense of sadness, it can also be a starting point for a new and more fulfilling journey.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

What I liked most was its lack of pretension. The character development was genuine, and it had the ability to incorporate tough issues without coming across as preachy. Instead of being annoyed by the slow pace of the book, I felt as if I had been given an audience within the family. I also appreciated the ethnic touches that are so often lacking in most American pieces today.

This might be the first book I've read where an affair actually proved beneficial to the plot. I do think that the words love and passion were sometimes confused with each other, but that's real life. I, like everyone else, was disgusted with Cam at times. But as a former people-pleaser like Allie, I can identify with the fact that we are often taken for granted. When someone important in our lives is selfish and hurts those close to them, the central question becomes: do we define ourselves, or let someone else do it for us? And what role does love play in all of this? When is it okay for our self-definition to be wrapped up in our love for another?

I don't think Allie was a doormat after the affair. For instance, she never went back to worshipping Cam. Picoult is eloquent in describing how, in fact, he learns to value her more in a way he never had before. Their relationship was rewritten. He threw away Mia's gift because he finally decided that he was no longer insecure about his identity as Allie's husband and the town police chief. While a part of him would always belong to the dreams he would never attain, he put it exactly where it belonged - in a distant, detachable fantasyland. His passionate but immature relationship with a very insecure Mia ended. He realized he had been a cad. Allie was the heroine because she was the rock and became more honest with herself about who she was and how she let others define her. The garage sale was not a hissy fit. It was a physical expression of taking back her life and throwing the ball into Cam's court - and being okay with it. That is very modern, and it seems like some readers missed this essential point.

My favorite part, of course, was Jamie and Maggie's relationship. It made me cry, dream, and cry some more. It was a beautiful mix of sadness and happiness.

I’ve had this book for a significant number of years.

Over those years, on several occasions, I’ve picked it up with the intention of reading it. However, each time, I just couldn’t seem to get into the story and would end up putting it down.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to give it another try. But you know, life is just too short.

Now, I’m only 20% into this book and I realize that I simply can’t continue.

I’m finally putting it down for good. Maybe I’ll donate it to the library so that someone else might have a chance to give it a go.

It’s a bit of a disappointment, but sometimes you have to accept that some books just aren’t for you.

I’m looking forward to finding other books that will capture my interest and keep me engaged from start to finish.

Another volume in my Picoult obsession has come to my hands.

I'm beginning to notice a certain formula in her works: a story that seems to be ripped directly from the headlines; three or four characters who each present their own point of view; and a trial that serves as a central element.

Even though I kind of have an idea of what to expect, I still find myself completely engrossed in the narratives.

This particular book elicited the most visceral response from me out of the five or so others that I have now read.

I felt deeply for the wife of the police and clan chief. She loved her husband with all her heart, perhaps more than he loved her. But I also felt for her husband, who was so consumed by his attraction to another woman.

And let's not forget the "mercy" killing that all the sub-stories revolved around. It added a layer of complexity and moral ambiguity to the entire plot.

I have made up my mind to keep going until I've read all the Picoult books available in all the local libraries. I just can't seem to get enough of her writing.

I know Picoult to be a writer of great intelligence and depth. She has the remarkable ability to delve into the most complicated human issues, which is precisely why I was so disappointed and frustrated with this particular novel. Mercy killing seems like a topic that is not only ripe for delving into but also for intense debating. However, instead of a profound exploration of this crucial subject, I was presented with a story that centered around cheaters.

The titular topic and the most compelling character, Jamie, seemed to be completely lost beneath the convoluted story of a couple who were blind to the fact that they were betraying all those who held them dear. It was as if the author had suddenly veered off course from writing something that was truly thought-provoking and had instead decided to pen a rather ordinary romance novel. This was incredibly frustrating and felt like a complete waste of a potentially good idea.

I'm not normally this harsh in my criticism, but this novel actually managed to make me quite mad. In fact, I'm not even entirely sure why I bothered to finish it. It just goes to show that even the most talented of writers can have an off day.