I think that the majority of reviewers who gave it, on average, 2-3 stars just didn't understand the beauty of the book. The point of it wasn't to have some dramatic plot with twists and turns and everything. The plot was almost irrelevant. It was a beautiful account of a friendship we've all had, and the prose and imagery and symbolism were all so powerful. ( )

Das war so gar nicht mein Buch. Auch wenn es relativ kurz ist, zog es sich doch ziemlich hin. Die Figuren blieben flach und entwickelten sich kaum weiter, viele Details schienen einfach unwichtig und die Handlung war nicht wirklich spannend.

Zwei Sterne, weil der Schreibstil und die Sprache der Autorin mir gefallen hat und ich ihr auf jeden Fall irgendwann eine zweite Chance geben will. ( )

a brilliant portrait of friendship, I loved it ( )

In the beginning the story is very slow and boring and I almost abandoned it, but it picks up about two thirds of the way in. However it is definitely not Claire Messud's best book. ( )

I didn't enjoy this as much as I was hoping. I never understood the character of Cassie and felt nothing for her. Did anyone else understand why she wouldn't befriend Julia after high school, saying obtuse things like - we both know why I can't come to your place. The irritation I felt with her never left. I feel like Messud does this to me everytime I read her. ( )