A ghost story with a side of eugenics? Sign me up!

I had no idea just how perfect this book would be for the spooky season

Another wonderful book by Picoult. It is quite distinct from her typical works as it deviated from strictly nonfiction topics, at least based on what one believes. I, being someone who firmly believes that the ones we love never truly leave us, was immediately drawn to this book from the very description. I became completely engrossed, hanging on every single word. It took me on a beautiful yet tragic journey, delving deep into the exquisite pain of loss. It also explored the desperate need that we all have to connect with those who have been gone for a long time. The story was so captivating that it kept me hooked from start to finish. It made me reflect on the power of love and the lengths we go to hold onto those dear to us, even in the face of separation.

Second Glance 3.75⭐️

Ross lost his beloved wife. The pain of living without her was simply unbearable for him. In a moment of绝望, he attempted to commit suicide, but fate had other plans, and it didn't succeed. So, he continued to live on, but his life took a strange turn. Now, Ross has become a ghost hunter, desperately hoping to connect with his wife's spirit.

Ross doesn't have the typical intention of getting rid of ghosts. If he were to find one, he wishes it would be his Ammie, longing for her to return to him. It's truly a heart-wrenching story. While he remains stuck in the past, unable to move on, other people are filled with a mix of emotions - angry, confused, and a little bit scared. They just want the ghost to disappear.

Obviously, being a work by Jodi Picoult, it was truly wonderful. The characters in the story had great depth and numerous layers. From the very beginning, the story pulled me in, and even after turning the final page, I still craved more.

She has a unique way of writing that effortlessly draws me in and makes me wholeheartedly believe that the characters' lives and problems are real. It's as if I were watching a movie for each chapter, vividly picturing and truly seeing everything unfold. I have no idea how she manages to do it, but I continue to be amazed by her remarkable skill.

Are you even kidding me? This book has 4 stars?

Ok - Picoult fans must be loyal to a fault. Let me guess - they also like made for TV movies, shopping at Walmart, wine in a box, crafting with yarn and tanning by the pool.

Now I'm just being ugly. Bad books make me nasty. She is really not a terrible writer - some of her sentences are even a little catchy. But girlfriend could not find a plot with a magnifying glass in a high school English class. Most of her stories are some sad modification of a plucked from the news / current events thing and the most clever addition she can come up with are creatively alliterative character names.

This was not "spellbinding" (big liar whose quote made it to back cover) or remotely interesting and I had the whole thing figured out about 30% in. Curse my compulsion to finish all books - I had to suffer through the whole thing just to prove it.

To be honest, I was truly disappointed with this book. The story lacked depth and originality. It seemed as if the author was simply recycling ideas from the news and trying to dress them up with fancy character names. The writing, while not terrible, was far from being excellent. The sentences that were supposed to be catchy felt forced and artificial. I found myself losing interest quickly and only continued reading because of my stubbornness to finish what I started. I really hope that Picoult can come up with something better in the future.

It should have been a four-star read.

However, I really struggled to get into the story during the first 100 pages. At times, I almost gave up.

I was completely confused over who was who and what was happening.

To be fair, I am easily confused.

Nonetheless, I do like the way Ms Picoult presents moral and other dilemmas in her tales.

For example, what would you do if the love of your life died?

Probably not what Ross did, so you have to suspend disbelief quite a bit in this book compared to her others.

But there were lines here that I absolutely loved.

And there were characters - like Ethan - who I adored.

Ross I liked too.

Overall, I did enjoy the book.

I'm just a bit stingy with the stars, and that's just me.

Maybe I'm being too critical, but I still think it's a good read despite its flaws.

I would recommend it to fans of Jodi Picoult's work.

This book is truly amazing.

Just when you think you have a good understanding of the story and where it's going, it suddenly takes an unexpected turn, and you realize that you don't know as much as you thought.

The author has a remarkable ability to keep the readers on the edge of their seats, constantly guessing and second-guessing.

It's a must-read for all Picoult fans like myself. Her writing is so engaging and the characters are so well-developed that you can't help but get emotionally invested in their lives.

This book is not only a great story but also a thought-provoking exploration of complex themes such as love, loss, and morality.

I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read that will leave them with a lot to think about.

First of all, I just have to say that this may be one of the worst Jodi Picoult books I've ever read. It has one of the most utterly and completely ridiculous storylines in her line of books so far.

To begin with, the beginning is overwhelmingly confusing. There are so many different characters that I couldn't keep my focus. This was a huge flaw.

Secondly, all the history and scientific crap really bored me out of my mind. It would have made this read so much smoother if she cut it down about 75 percent.

Moreover, it also rubbed me the wrong way that the character Ross would blatantly walk around in his underwear around his sister. Was there a need for this description? It sounds like incest to me.

The only part I found even remotely interesting about this book was when they went back in time. After that, I found it painfully hard to get through this novel.

Overall, it was tedious, predictable, and unbelievable. Don't get me wrong, Jodi Picoult is a gifted writer. However, her concept for this novel was a little far fetched.

"Second Glance" by Jodi Picoult is a captivating book that delves into the realm of the supernatural, specifically ghosts. However, I found myself really struggling through this particular read.

It was extremely difficult to follow the storyline at times. There were numerous moments when I was left wondering what was actually going on. The plot seemed to meander and take unexpected turns that made it hard to keep up.

Thankfully, towards the end, it did manage to circle back and close certain parts of the book, which finally made some sense of the whole narrative.

Nevertheless, despite the redeeming qualities towards the end, this remains my least favorite Jodi Picoult book. Her other works usually have a more engaging and straightforward plot that keeps me hooked from start to finish. But "Second Glance" just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I've always had a great passion for books written by Jodi Picoult. This particular one was, without a doubt, her most ambitious endeavor to date. I truly admire her for having the courage to take on such a project.

It is indeed a well-written book, but I frequently found myself getting lost in the maze of numerous characters and sub-plots. So much so that I had to resort to making notes just to keep them all straight in my mind. Moreover, there wasn't a single specific viewpoint character that I could firmly latch onto, with whom I could establish a connection and truly care about.

As I mentioned earlier, it's a well-written book, yet it's not an easy read. I guess I can be considered a lazy reader in this regard. I simply desired fewer characters and a more defined storyline. It would have made the reading experience more straightforward and enjoyable for me.

Nevertheless, I still appreciate the effort and talent that Jodi Picoult has put into this book. It's just that it didn't quite meet my personal reading preferences.

I used to be an avid reader of mystery novels during my childhood, especially those that heavily relied on the plot. This might have led me to view any given dates and minute details as crucial CLUES that could potentially change the course of the mystery. I would always attempt to guess what might happen next. Additionally, I have an instinctive tendency to calculate ages and dates. It's extremely difficult to break free from this terrier-like reading mode.

Unfortunately, this book couldn't withstand the scrutiny of my terrier attack. The way the plot unfolds simply doesn't align with the given dates and ages. Perhaps it was an oversight in reworking an old abandoned draft, but my impression was that it was more of a symptom. It seems that the author didn't consider these details to be of great importance. Instead, the focus was on injecting as much emotional drama and tension as possible into a hot topic that she had researched and wanted to write about. I felt cheated, much like being presented with a politician's bombastic rhetoric while they show signs of ignorance regarding important numbers or facts.

On the positive side, and in an attempt to balance out the pitiful one-star rating (Goodreads really needs a lot more space to specify all the degrees of "I didn't like it"), similar to her other books, the writing is impressively easy to follow and addictive. The research was also quite interesting. However, in the end, Picoult's formula is a little off for it to truly be my cup of tea.

If I could give it 6 stars I would - brilliant!

It is truly difficult to say much about this book without revealing any spoilers. However, it is a captivating story that weaves together family history, elements of the supernatural, and modern life.

The multiple intertwined plots keep the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly engaged and eager to discover what will happen next. The characters are also extremely well-developed and fascinating.

I have always been a huge fan of Jodi Picoult's books, and this one is no exception. It ranks right up there with the others that I have adored.

Her ability to create complex and believable characters, along with her skillful storytelling, makes this book a must-read for any fan of fiction.

Whether you are interested in family dramas, mysteries, or supernatural tales, this book has something for everyone.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read that will keep them entertained from start to finish.

Jodi Picoult truly has an uncanny ability to draw me in, almost against my better judgment