Written by Marie Bostwick, The Promise Girls follows the three Promise girls, each engineered by their mother to become prodigies, until the day she breaks in front of the camera and their lives change forever. This novel follows their lives some twenty years after this incident, when all of the girls are grown up. What happens to brilliant children when they are adults? Do they live up to expectations?
I have mixed feelings about this novel. On one hand, the writing was good, the story engaging, and the characters so endearing. The three sisters, Joanie, Meg, and Avery, are each so very interesting and different from one another. I enjoyed reading about them, Asher, Owen, Adam, Hal, and their children, Walt and Tina.
What I didn’t like?
While the premise was interesting, I found myself bored until the accident, and then I figured out all but one of the twists for the ending by halfway through the book. And, honestly, I figured out that twist too, just not the details.
And, I don’t like that. I don’t want to see the ending coming in a book like this that is fiction without any fantasy. I want it to be a surprise. Disappointing, that’s what it was.
Who would like this book?
If you are considering reading this, do it. It is worth it. If you are one of those people who can figure out the ending of a movie in the first 10 minutes, maybe don’t read this book. Or, if you like that and still seeing the book to the end, do! The writing is great.
Okay SPOILERS BELOW
Here is the thing that bugged me and why I won’t give this a 5 star review on Goodreads. She had Walt be Asher’s son.
I think that was a cop out because all of her characters had, just that, character.
Not a fan. It doesn’t make sense with the Asher she has built. That and the fact that no one figured it out. B.S. As soon as they described Asher then described Walt I kept thinking “no, no, no, don’t do that.” Why not have Joanie go for a guy LIKE Asher. That would make more sense. Or a guy she thought was like him.
I just… yeah. They went for a really feel good ending.
Let me know your thoughts on this book if you have read it (this was a book club book at my local library – libraries are great y’all!), and please make sure to like, comment, and follow this blog for future updates!
I know, a bit of a sell-out, but the more followers I have, the better books I can get to determine if they are actually better.
