This book, which happens to be my absolute favorite among Jodi's works, represents the entire Picoult oeuvre. I devoured most of her books over the course of one summer. It served as the testing ground for the divide in my reading personality - that of a snob versus a storylover.

Picoult is undeniably sentimental. She always tackles at least one significant Issue, and almost every chapter, if not each section, concludes with pithy Theme Sentences that really hit home. However, miraculously, she manages to avoid that after-school special kind of cheesiness almost entirely. I truly have no idea how she pulls that off.

Moreover, she is an outstanding storyteller. She takes stories that seem like they should be extremely predictable and manages to make them not so obvious. She can tug at your heartstrings even as your mind is critiquing with thoughts like "after-school specialiness." Additionally, she has an extraordinary talent for creating authentic teenage voices, although they are typically those of white middle-class teens. Her works are a unique blend of emotion, thought-provoking issues, and engaging storytelling that keeps readers coming back for more.

This was truly bad, so extremely bad that I find myself completely at a loss for words to accurately express my feelings.

It was a situation that defied description, leaving me in a state of shock and disbelief. The magnitude of how bad it was simply overwhelmed me.

There were no adequate adjectives or phrases that could do justice to the awfulness of the situation.

I was left dumbfounded, unable to put into words the extent of the badness that I had witnessed or experienced.

It was as if my mind had gone blank, unable to process the sheer magnitude of how bad this truly was.

The friendship between the Hartes and the Golds underwent a significant transformation when a tragic event befell their children, Chris Hartes and Emily Golds. One fateful midnight, Emily was discovered dead, and Chris, the sole witness at the time, confessed that they had entered into a suicide pact. However, the police harbored doubts about Chris's statements, and it was here that readers began to uncover the truth.

The story unfolds through an alternating timeline of Now and Then. The Now focuses on the investigation and the ongoing trial, where Chris is accused of being the murderer. In Then, readers gain an in-depth understanding of the lives of the Hartes and Golds, particularly Chris and Emily. I appreciate the alternate timeline style as it provides more exposure to Emily's character.

I now see Picoult's writing style more clearly. I have read several of her books, such as "My Sister's Keeper," "Plain Truth," and "Perfect Match." While they all follow a similar pattern of a tragic event followed by the characters facing a trial, in this book, Picoult delves more into the jail scene rather than just the trial or the outside world.

This book is not simply a romance; it encompasses much more. It explores themes of family, friendship, and depression, and how these are handled, in this case, not very well. I wanted to like Emily's character, but I couldn't help but think she was selfish. It's not fair to put someone you love in such a difficult situation.

Do you love someone so much that you would do anything for them? In this case, Chris does, but look where it has led him.

Despite my busy life, I couldn't put this book down. I was eager to keep reading and find out what would happen next. Picoult's portrayal of the characters is fascinating, especially the character of Jordan, the defense attorney. I usually find reading about ongoing trials boring due to the technical terms and complex thinking involved. However, this time, I found it enjoyable, and Jordan added a touch of humor to the tense moments.

It's an almost 4 stars, not sure if minus or plus something.

I truly like Picoult's style. Her stories always manage to draw me in. This particular one is indeed a good one. The thread of the story gradually unfolds and emerges into its final state.

I find myself wondering why Chris was so deeply in love with Emily. I mean, I didn't have such a great liking for her. She could have talked to someone about the molestation she endured at age 9, about the issues regarding her sexual implication to Chris, about the fact that she was pregnant. About everything. But instead, she chose to hurt the only person in the world who truly cared for her. She didn't seem to give a shit about his feelings or about the fact that she would destroy his life forever. Because no matter what, his life was irrevocably damaged.

I also didn't like her mom. I mean, it's unimaginable to lose a child, but how could she destroy the only evidence her daughter left?

I have very mixed feelings about this whole situation. But despite that, the story is undeniably good. It makes you think and feel a whole range of emotions.

It is extremely rare for me not to finish a book. In fact, I can't recall a single instance where I haven't completed one. However, this particular book was an exception!

I managed to get through approximately one-third of it (unfortunately) before I finally said, "enough!"

This was my first attempt at reading this author, and it will most definitely be my last. I have a strong aversion to her writing style. Not only were the characters disappointingly one-dimensional, but not a single one of them seemed to possess any integrity or moral fiber. I simply can't fathom any worse parenting than what was depicted in this book. I couldn't care less about any of the characters because they were either so morally corrupt or so poorly developed that I thought they were all completely uninteresting!

What I truly despised was her edgy and overly graphic writing style. I have a deep loathing for books (or even movies) that are充斥着 profanity and sexuality. It's just yucky! I found it to be completely tasteless.

I am absolutely flabbergasted by all the reviews that describe this novel as "beautifully written." What on earth? Beautifully written are the works of Bronte, Austen, Dostoevsky, Stratton-Porter, or Hardy... not this drivel.

I just don't understand the hype surrounding Picoult.

I had a Jodi Picoult phase when I was 11.

I literally read every single book of hers that was published until 2013 on my first edition Kindle.

Eleven-year-old me had no business reading this, but I was obsessed with the courtroom drama and thought her writing was God’s gift on earth.

This was my favorite book of hers.

HUH? Rereading this at 22 has been a rude awakening.

Long story short, this is a book that would have been canceled and slandered if it was published in this day and age.

Was her writing always this…mediocre? And dry? And her characters literally so unsympathetic?

As I look back now, I realize how my perspective has changed.

Perhaps it was because I was younger and more impressionable back then.

But now, I can see the flaws in her writing more clearly.

The storylines that once seemed so captivating now feel a bit tired and overdone.

The characters that I once thought were so complex now seem one-dimensional.

It's interesting how our tastes and opinions can change over time.

Maybe I'll give some of her other books another try and see if my thoughts have changed on them as well.

But for now, this particular book has left me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

Pactul is a novel full of controversies and intense emotions. The author weighs many things through its actions. Friendships and love relationships are brought into discussion. Perhaps, over time, they sometimes reach a certain saturation, giving a sense of boredom and not necessarily delighting the soul. Everything seems perfect initially. There are two families with a good financial situation. One has the head of the family as an ophthalmologist, and the other has a veterinarian as the head of the family. The Harrte and Gold families have been neighbors for over eighteen years. Although they are not related, they have come to consider each other as an extension of the other. That's why their children, born with a very small age difference, a boy and a girl, become extremely close. This is no longer surprising to anyone. Moreover, they even form a couple at the ages of 13 and 14 respectively. Chris and Emily seem to have the perfect relationship. However, a phone call at night, announcing the worst, that both children are in the hospital, surprises everyone. From this moment, the author oscillates between the present and the past, presenting us with details of the facts and relationships and showing us how a tragic event can change people and relationships. Beyond the action itself, which leads us to the truth, which, like any truth, is relative depending on the perspective from which it is seen, Picoult tells us about the relationships between spouses, about the relationship between parents and children, and about the depths of the human mind, which can lead to great evil.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly wondering what will happen next. The characters are well-developed and complex, making it easy for the reader to empathize with them. The author's writing style is engaging and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the events and the emotions of the characters.

Overall, Pactul is a thought-provoking and emotional novel that explores the depths of human relationships and the impact of tragic events. It is a must-read for fans of Jodi Picoult and anyone interested in a good story that will make them think and feel.

https://crampeiedesufletblog.wordpress.com/2019/11/01/jodi-picoult-pactul-recenzie/

I'm truly on the fence about this particular book. I, Amos, have DNF'd (Did Not Finish) it a couple of times mainly because it had an extremely slow start. And I'm not exaggerating when I say that. The story didn't begin to gain momentum until well past the 60% mark.

At the beginning, I had a certain liking for Chris. However, as the story progressed towards the middle, my opinion of him started to change and I began to dislike him. By the end, I actually loathed him. The entire plot was a so-called "who-done-it" romance, but in reality, the actual events were not even that complex. They were just unnecessarily drawn out. In my view, this book could have been half its current size and I probably would have given it a higher rating.

It's a real shame because there were some elements in the story that had potential. But the slow pacing and the drawn-out nature of the plot really detracted from the overall reading experience. I'm left feeling rather disappointed with this book.

He kissed her with such tenderness that she was left wondering if it had all been a figment of her imagination.

To say there had been a mere loss was absurd; one lost a shoe or a set of keys. But when a child passed away, it was not just a loss. It was a catastrophe, a devastation, a veritable hell.

[He] closed his eyes, grappling with the challenge of conveying to someone who had never met her the unique way she always smelled like rain, or how his stomach would tie itself in knots every time he saw her unbraid her hair. How could he describe the indescribable feeling when she finished his sentences and turned the shared mug so that her mouth met the spot where his had been? How could he explain the phenomenon that whether they were in a locker room, underwater, or in the piney woods, as long as [she] was by his side, he felt at home?

He attempted to pretend that he was not affected by the weight of her grief, which lay between them like a restless child, so palpable that he could not reach past it to offer her comfort.

She closed her eyes as he touched her with the utmost care in the world, and slowly, she began to heal.

Being a mother bestows upon you a distinct kind of perception, a prism through which you can envision your child with multiple faces simultaneously. It is the reason why you can witness him shatter a ceramic lamp and still recall him as an angel. Or hold him while he cries, yet imagine his smile. Or watch him approach you, now a grown man, and still see the dimpled skin of an infant.

When you love someone, you allow them to take care of you.

When you love someone, you prioritize their needs above your own.

Do you know what it's like to love someone so deeply that you cannot envision yourself without picturing them? Or what it's like to touch someone and feel as if you have returned home?

...and he suddenly realized that if she were to take her own life, he would perish too. Maybe not instantly, perhaps not with the same overwhelming burst of pain, but it was inevitable. After all, one cannot survive for long without a heart.

To what extent do we really know a person? This is the premise of this book, which presents us with a very mysterious story, always with a moral dilemma as the background.

Once again, Jodi Picoult manages to captivate us from the very beginning.

The author has a remarkable talent for creating complex characters and intricate plots that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

As we follow the story, we are forced to question our own beliefs and values, and to consider the consequences of our actions.

The moral dilemmas presented in the book are not black and white, but rather shades of gray, making it all the more thought-provoking.

Overall, this is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a deeper meaning.

This is my very first encounter with a Jodi Picoult novel. And I have to be honest, I didn't have an overwhelming love for this book. In fact, there were times when I seriously considered flinging it across the room. Why, you might ask? Well, it constantly gave me the vibes of Hannah Baker from "13 Reasons Why".

This book is, in a way, the polar opposite of Romeo and Juliet. The two families are the best of friends and have high hopes that their kids will end up together. And indeed, they do. However, when one of the kids meets a tragic end and the other is put on trial for murder, the entire situation takes a drastic turn.

The book delves into a plethora of heavy topics such as child sex abuse, depression, suicide, incarceration, and guilt, among others. While all these topics are undeniably important and are justifiably covered, there is one aspect that I simply couldn't support. *SPOILER ALERT* The idea of murder being presented as an act of mercy, specifically when a depressed girl is killed and her killer is painted as a white knight. No way. No how. It just didn't sit right with me.

Jodi Picoult is my homie.

She holds a special place in my heart, just like Colleen Hoover does.

To me, she is truly my everything.

Her books have the power to transport me to different worlds, making me feel a wide range of emotions.

The way she crafts her stories and develops her characters is simply remarkable.

With each turn of the page, I am completely immersed in her fictional universes.

Whether it's a heart-wrenching drama or a thought-provoking mystery, Jodi Picoult always delivers.

She has become a source of inspiration and entertainment for me, and I can't imagine my life without her books.

She is not just an author to me; she is a dear friend who has accompanied me through many reading adventures.

I will always cherish her works and look forward to each new release with great anticipation.