The Book of Essie: A novel

This was a great story with an interesting and timely plot. The novel kept moving forward so that I couldn't put it down once I started. I do wish the characters were a bit more developed- I found myself wanting to know more about them. However that ultimately didn't change what a great read this was!

This was an engaging and exciting read. Perfect for the times we live in today. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end! Essie was an unexpected heroine and a joy to root for. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next!

Essie had me wishing for more traffic on my already long commute! The subject was timely, the main characters were lovable, and the plot, though predictable at times, kept me engaged through many commuting hours. Can’t wait to see what Weir thinks of next!

The book was okay. There were too many twists and turns in it and it became confusing. I appreciated the subject matter of the book. These issues need to be brought out into the open more. But a lot of what went on in the story wasn't very believable. But it's fiction so I guess you can write unbelievable things into being believable. The whole marriage thing was a bit out there.

I'm just so tired of young adult fiction masquerading as literary fiction.

Note to fiction writers: the difference between adult and YA literature is not the amount of dramatic instances but rather the depth to which the writer explores such instances by examining characters' emotions, social interactions, relationships with other characters, etc. In this book, the main characters are constantly barraged again and again by dramatic events or revelations: a character is closeted, a character is pregnant, a character was part of a religious cult, etc. This happens so often (and is treated with such blatant carelessness) that it becomes unfortunately laughable. I swear, there is literally a page and a half of description of the main character's wedding dress and NO pages in the book where this same character actually explores the effect that an incestuous rape has had on her. Yes, I'm serious.

Overall, the writer takes a story that could potentially be interesting and worthwhile but doesn't bother to fully develop it enough to make it into actual literature.

This was an engaging and exciting read. Perfect for the times we live in today. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end! Essie was an unexpected heroine and a joy to root for. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next!

Essie had me wishing for more traffic on my already long commute! The subject was timely, the main characters were lovable, and the plot, though predictable at times, kept me engaged through many commuting hours. Can’t wait to see what Weir thinks of next!

The book was okay. There were too many twists and turns in it and it became confusing. I appreciated the subject matter of the book. These issues need to be brought out into the open more. But a lot of what went on in the story wasn't very believable. But it's fiction so I guess you can write unbelievable things into being believable. The whole marriage thing was a bit out there.

I'm just so tired of young adult fiction masquerading as literary fiction.

Note to fiction writers: the difference between adult and YA literature is not the amount of dramatic instances but rather the depth to which the writer explores such instances by examining characters' emotions, social interactions, relationships with other characters, etc. In this book, the main characters are constantly barraged again and again by dramatic events or revelations: a character is closeted, a character is pregnant, a character was part of a religious cult, etc. This happens so often (and is treated with such blatant carelessness) that it becomes unfortunately laughable. I swear, there is literally a page and a half of description of the main character's wedding dress and NO pages in the book where this same character actually explores the effect that an incestuous rape has had on her. Yes, I'm serious.

Overall, the writer takes a story that could potentially be interesting and worthwhile but doesn't bother to fully develop it enough to make it into actual literature.