"Now That You Mention It" book club discussion! Open to all!

[ufcasey]

I couldn't find any good online questions about this book, so I've made up some of my own, sorry if they are terrible. Feel free to not answer any of them and instead just talk about your thoughts on the book.


1. How do you like the main character, Nora Stuart? Was she likeable or annoying, etc?

2. Which secondary character were you drawn to the most? (Lile, Xiaowen, Pow, Sully, Audrey, etc.) Who did you like the least?

3. What was your favorite part of the book? Least?


Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

[ufcasey]

Tagging people who might have read this book:

rainbowchip, rootbeerfloat, travella, bex, mrspez07, minzy, aurora, wkatie,

[bex]

I read it.

I liked it because it was fast and fluff, but it wasn't a good book. It made me want to try another of her books so I got Firefly Lane from the library but only got like 50 pages into it before one of the scenes made me stop. then I realized this book was by Kristan Higgins and Firefly Lane is by Kristin Hannah. Oh well, not a fan of either I guess!

Anyway.....I felt like this was just so overdone. How can we make this person the most tragic person ever??? Father abandons them, mother is emotionally cut off, she has no friends, she blames herself for a tragic accident, she is smart and a GI doc but cant find love, then she finds love but he actually dumps her WHILE she is still in the ER after a car accident, she was assaulted and almost raped in her own home, her sister wont speak to her, etc. But going back home will fix everything!

So.....yeah. Ultimately I didn't like it. The hospital scenes were so fake, I couldn't understand why the mother would not have told them their father was dead, especially once it was evident Nora was searching for him, I thought Gloria's reaction to her re: Robert/Bobby was ridiculous, etc.

It was one of those books that is fairly enjoyable in the moment, IMO, because it is light and fast and you can just kind of go with it, but when you think back on it....it was pretty bad.

[wesleycrusher]

Last week I checked it out of the library and went to read it- it sounded very familiar and then I realized I already read it a couple months ago! So that's how un-memorable the book was to me.

I really dislike books with moody teen characters. I have mixed feelings on Nora being a doctor- I guess it's the idea that a doctor should be confident and rational, and she was neither. Although I do know that in real life not all docs have their life together, it just seemed incongruent.

Also that whole thing with the friend dating her ex and not believing her and treating her like crap, but then suddenly it's all ok? girl, BYE!

[minzy]

I did read through it pretty quickly but I didn't love this one either, 3.5 stars.  It seemed to throw in everything but the kitchen sink. 

Random thoughts:
It wasn't crystal clear to me why she would bother returning "home" when she had been so repulsed and rejected by this place and many of the people in it.  If this were real life, she likely could have afforded to go practically anywhere else for a reset.  However, I will say, that houseboat sounded delightful for summertime living space...

I think we called it a romance and I wouldn't exactly say it was that. I knew the second he was introduced that she was going to wind up with Sullivan, and although he was always very considerate towards her, their chemistry wasn't that great with the awkward first date and all. Also, how fun is that, heading into a relationship where the guy's twin brother is deranged and hates you, and their mother is awful too?

I did not get why there was the scene where she spots her attacker in the park, and still he gets away.  Perhaps to show she was stronger and could pursue him?  But I thought she did a pretty good job being strong and resourceful during the attack too.  So I don't know what that part was supposed to contribute to the overall story.

I thought Nora was petty about wanting to spy on her mother's hugging club.  While that was an eyebrow raising thing itself and not in a medical setting, since she was this great doctor I would have thought some traces of HIPAA might have come into play and she would have minded her own business.  Apparently I'm a stickler for technicalities here, lol.

Another critique I read mentioned the focus on weight, and weighing less, by both Nora and Audrey.  I don't feel like it was purposefully blatant, but even subtly perpetuating the idea that people are liked better when they're skinnier is kind of gross.

I suspected mean twin Luke was going to be revealed as Poe's dad to really tie everything up with a bow... but apparently not.

The "bipolar, sometimes loving, but was also always doing dangerous things with the kids" father reminded me a little bit of the descriptions of Tara Westover's dad in Educated (if anybody else read that too).

[travella]

I gave it 2*. I read this book a few weeks ago and it was very forgettable. I don't recall enough to really discuss it. The only thing I wrote in my notes was that I disliked the main character.

[bex]

There was someone on here who said it was their least favorite book ever and they couldn't finish it and they would share their thoughts on it during the discussion. Come forth! lol

[tacokick]

Sept 26, 2018 11:58:27 GMT -5 minzy said:

I did read through it pretty quickly but I didn't love this one either, 3.5 stars.  It seemed to throw in everything but the kitchen sink. 

Random thoughts:
It wasn't crystal clear to me why she would bother returning "home" when she had been so repulsed and rejected by this place and many of the people in it.  If this were real life, she likely could have afforded to go practically anywhere else for a reset.  However, I will say, that houseboat sounded delightful for summertime living space...

I think we called it a romance and I wouldn't exactly say it was that. I knew the second he was introduced that she was going to wind up with Sullivan, and although he was always very considerate towards her, their chemistry wasn't that great with the awkward first date and all. Also, how fun is that, heading into a relationship where the guy's twin brother is deranged and hates you, and their mother is awful too?

I did not get why there was the scene where she spots her attacker in the park, and still he gets away.  Perhaps to show she was stronger and could pursue him?  But I thought she did a pretty good job being strong and resourceful during the attack too.  So I don't know what that part was supposed to contribute to the overall story.

I thought Nora was petty about wanting to spy on her mother's hugging club.  While that was an eyebrow raising thing itself and not in a medical setting, since she was this great doctor I would have thought some traces of HIPAA might have come into play and she would have minded her own business.  Apparently I'm a stickler for technicalities here, lol.

Another critique I read mentioned the focus on weight, and weighing less, by both Nora and Audrey.  I don't feel like it was purposefully blatant, but even subtly perpetuating the idea that people are liked better when they're skinnier is kind of gross.

I suspected mean twin Luke was going to be revealed as Poe's dad to really tie everything up with a bow... but apparently not.

The "bipolar, sometimes loving, but was also always doing dangerous things with the kids" father reminded me a little bit of the descriptions of Tara Westover's dad in Educated (if anybody else read that too).

I was just coming here to write all of this! So much drama and a lot of odd fat shaming. That weird dinner party where the man got sick and she went on and on about it?

I forgot it was a book club book so after I was finished I was puzzled why I read it lol

[bex]

Sept 26, 2018 14:53:39 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Sept 26, 2018 11:58:27 GMT -5 minzy said:

I did read through it pretty quickly but I didn't love this one either, 3.5 stars.  It seemed to throw in everything but the kitchen sink. 

Random thoughts:
It wasn't crystal clear to me why she would bother returning "home" when she had been so repulsed and rejected by this place and many of the people in it.  If this were real life, she likely could have afforded to go practically anywhere else for a reset.  However, I will say, that houseboat sounded delightful for summertime living space...

I think we called it a romance and I wouldn't exactly say it was that. I knew the second he was introduced that she was going to wind up with Sullivan, and although he was always very considerate towards her, their chemistry wasn't that great with the awkward first date and all. Also, how fun is that, heading into a relationship where the guy's twin brother is deranged and hates you, and their mother is awful too?

I did not get why there was the scene where she spots her attacker in the park, and still he gets away.  Perhaps to show she was stronger and could pursue him?  But I thought she did a pretty good job being strong and resourceful during the attack too.  So I don't know what that part was supposed to contribute to the overall story.

I thought Nora was petty about wanting to spy on her mother's hugging club.  While that was an eyebrow raising thing itself and not in a medical setting, since she was this great doctor I would have thought some traces of HIPAA might have come into play and she would have minded her own business.  Apparently I'm a stickler for technicalities here, lol.

Another critique I read mentioned the focus on weight, and weighing less, by both Nora and Audrey.  I don't feel like it was purposefully blatant, but even subtly perpetuating the idea that people are liked better when they're skinnier is kind of gross.

I suspected mean twin Luke was going to be revealed as Poe's dad to really tie everything up with a bow... but apparently not.

The "bipolar, sometimes loving, but was also always doing dangerous things with the kids" father reminded me a little bit of the descriptions of Tara Westover's dad in Educated (if anybody else read that too).

I was just coming here to write all of this! So much drama and a lot of odd fat shaming. That weird dinner party where the man got sick and she went on and on about it?

I forgot it was a book club book so after I was finished I was puzzled why I read it lol

The dinner party was SO WEIRD. Like did she think her mom was just hanging out with all these men (since it seemed she saw them all regularly at various places) but once they were at a DINNER PARTY!!! She would start dating one?

[tacokick]

Sept 26, 2018 15:49:21 GMT -5 bex said:

Sept 26, 2018 14:53:39 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I was just coming here to write all of this! So much drama and a lot of odd fat shaming. That weird dinner party where the man got sick and she went on and on about it?

I forgot it was a book club book so after I was finished I was puzzled why I read it lol

The dinner party was SO WEIRD. Like did she think her mom was just hanging out with all these men (since it seemed she saw them all regularly at various places) but once they were at a DINNER PARTY!!! She would start dating one?

Yes! That really made zero sense. They were all men the mom apparently knew for decades so now she is going to want to date them? And who throws a party where you are trying to set up your mom up with multiple men at the same time? Wouldn’t just one man make more sense?

[expectantsteelerfan]

I read this in August, and in looking at the questions, couldn't remember a single thing about it. But after reading the synopsis and my review on goodreads, I remembered it quickly. For me, it was a quick, easy read that I enjoyed if I didn't think about it or analyze it AT ALL. Total fluff, but enjoyable in the moment and completely forgettable.

[jenda33]

Sept 26, 2018 18:44:09 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

I read this in August, and in looking at the questions, couldn't remember a single thing about it. But after reading the synopsis and my review on goodreads, I remembered it quickly. For me, it was a quick, easy read that I enjoyed if I didn't think about it or analyze it AT ALL. Total fluff, but enjoyable in the moment and completely forgettable.

This was exactly how I felt. I did question several things like - why would her mom who never touched her start a hugging club but still be weird about hugging her own daughter. I thought that the sister was so sad and irritating, why would she NOT want the connection especially from prison! The relationship between Gloria and Bobby so unrealistic.

I didn't agree with the fat shaming but thought she was trying to be realistic about how someone feels who grows up being picked on for their size. Overall I liked our protagonist although I can't remember her name right now.

This story was a fast read and for the most part I was interested. Looking back I can see many of the holes and flaws many of you have picked out. I rated it 3*

[rootbeerfloat]

So I've read almost all of Kristan Higgins' books. They are generally enjoyable (to me) contemporary romances that I can read in a day, and they always feature a dog lol! Other common themes are parent/sibling dysfunction, small towns, painfully awkward moments that the heroine(s) has/have to recover from, and a somewhat serious ISSUE.

This wasn't my favorite of hers because the issue was too heavy for a light romance. Nora was brutally attacked! All the other stuff she dealt with seemed minor in comparison, and it meant that the romance was underdeveloped; usually I can count on decent chemistry between the main characters.

I liked Xiaowen and gave it 3*.

[abs]

Sept 26, 2018 18:44:09 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

I read this in August, and in looking at the questions, couldn't remember a single thing about it. But after reading the synopsis and my review on goodreads, I remembered it quickly. For me, it was a quick, easy read that I enjoyed if I didn't think about it or analyze it AT ALL. Total fluff, but enjoyable in the moment and completely forgettable.

This.  Even looking at the character list I was thinking maybe I somehow read the wrong book!  I did remember after reading through this thread though.  I don't read a Kristan Higgins books expecting a literacy masterpiece.  They are generally fluffy and fast easy reads.  This one was no exception.   This was probably not her strongest book but I still enjoyed it.   

The dinner party does stand out as being super awkward and weird.

[rainbowchip]

This is by far my least favorite book I read all year. I agree with everything bex said.

It also wasn't memorable at all. I just looked at my goodreads review and this is what I wrote after I read it back in April.

This book had very little romance in it for a romance novel. What romance was there seemed really forced. Are we supposed to think it's more "real" that the first time Sully and Nora had sex it was awkward but they worked through it?

But the worst part was that Nora is assaulted twice and severely injured another time. I do not like assaulting/injuring women being used as a plot device! It made me not like anything else about this book.

[mrspez07]

I rated 4 stars after I read it but had to go back and reread the summary to even remember what it was about. I think it struck a chord with me and was just the kind of book I needed when I read it. I remember enjoying the characters overall, though annoyed with the friend dating her ex.

I sometimes struggle with star ratings on “light reads”. They aren’t as moving or powerful as the books with important topics or voices, but if the are really enjoyable to read, is that worth the same 4 or 5 stars as a critically acclaimed book?

[wesleycrusher]

Sept 27, 2018 8:52:22 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

I sometimes struggle with star ratings on “light reads”. They aren’t as moving or powerful as the books with important topics or voices, but if the are really enjoyable to read, is that worth the same 4 or 5 stars as a critically acclaimed book?

Same. I was just discussing this with my husband. I include genre in my thinking when I rate- so for example, a YA book would have different standards to me than non-fiction.   

[bex]

Sept 27, 2018 8:52:22 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

I rated 4 stars after I read it but had to go back and reread the summary to even remember what it was about. I think it struck a chord with me and was just the kind of book I needed when I read it. I remember enjoying the characters overall, though annoyed with the friend dating her ex.

I sometimes struggle with star ratings on “light reads”. They aren’t as moving or powerful as the books with important topics or voices, but if the are really enjoyable to read, is that worth the same 4 or 5 stars as a critically acclaimed book?

I star "light reads" based on what I expect from them. I rarely give them 5 stars because I save my 5 star reviews books that I was really wowed by, or that really impacted me, etc.  But I do often give 3-4 stars if the book is in the confines of my expectations. Like Nora Roberts books often get 4 stars from me, because while every book is the same, I still really enjoy them. But I think I gave 3 stars to her shelter in place book and 3 stars to the Collector, because they were weaker efforts from her, in my opinion.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Sept 27, 2018 8:52:22 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

I rated 4 stars after I read it but had to go back and reread the summary to even remember what it was about. I think it struck a chord with me and was just the kind of book I needed when I read it. I remember enjoying the characters overall, though annoyed with the friend dating her ex.

I sometimes struggle with star ratings on “light reads”. They aren’t as moving or powerful as the books with important topics or voices, but if the are really enjoyable to read, is that worth the same 4 or 5 stars as a critically acclaimed book?

I always tell my friends that my star ratings are 3/3.5 is enjoyable for the general type of book it is, so if you generally enjoy this type of book, this one is worth reading.  4 stars is something I'd pretty much universally recommend to anyone who is looking for something to read, and 5 stars is a book I think every person in the world should read.

[scribellesam]

I really enjoy Higgins when I’m in the mood for a light romance, but I agree that this is not her best work. The romantic lead was not compelling especially with the creepy brother, and it was just a bit too heavy in subject matter for the type of book it is. One of the author’s hallmarks (other than the dog thing) is to have zany characters doing zany things, but the dinner party scene was mostly just dumb. I gave this one three stars. Enjoyable enough but not one I would revisit.

[tacokick]

Sept 27, 2018 22:21:30 GMT -5 scribellesam said:

I really enjoy Higgins when I’m in the mood for a light romance, but I agree that this is not her best work. The romantic lead was not compelling especially with the creepy brother, and it was just a bit too heavy in subject matter for the type of book it is. One of the author’s hallmarks (other than the dog thing) is to have zany characters doing zany things, but the dinner party scene was mostly just dumb. I gave this one three stars. Enjoyable enough but not one I would revisit.

I feel like the book could have been so much better! Where is her editor? So much could have been slashed or reworked and been fine, it had some cute individual bits in it. Sometimes I think after an author has a bunch of books out they just let them publish whatever and that’s not really a great idea.

[aurora]

Sept 26, 2018 9:12:51 GMT -5 bex said:

...

It was one of those books that is fairly enjoyable in the moment, IMO, because it is light and fast and you can just kind of go with it, but when you think back on it....it was pretty bad.

I think this is a pretty good description. I sailed through it because it was a very easy read, but it didn't feel like it had a lot of depth, which made it not very memorable and not a book that inspired anything in me. The characters were pretty one-dimensional. The storyline wasn't very innovative. But, I didn't exactly dislike it. I just also didn't like it, if that makes sense.

[aurora]

Sept 26, 2018 9:20:30 GMT -5 wesleycrusher said:

Last week I checked it out of the library and went to read it- it sounded very familiar and then I realized I already read it a couple months ago! So that's how un-memorable the book was to me.

...

This cracked me up, because I finished it a few weeks ago and I can already see myself forgetting that I had read it. Just not all that memorable.

[aurora]

I also felt like the dinner party was bizarre.

I think the thing I was most afraid of in the whole book was that the jerky ex-boyfriend whose name I have already forgotten was going to do something to the dog out of spite. More than any fear for any of the main characters.

I did like the plot line about Nora getting to know her niece since her sister was in jail. That's not one I read regularly, and even though the characters were one dimensional I still appreciated the novelty.

[aurora]

Sept 26, 2018 23:03:16 GMT -5 rootbeerfloat said:

So I've read almost all of Kristan Higgins' books. They are generally enjoyable (to me) contemporary romances that I can read in a day, and they always feature a dog lol! Other common themes are parent/sibling dysfunction, small towns, painfully awkward moments that the heroine(s) has/have to recover from, and a somewhat serious ISSUE.

This wasn't my favorite of hers because the issue was too heavy for a light romance. Nora was brutally attacked! All the other stuff she dealt with seemed minor in comparison, and it meant that the romance was underdeveloped; usually I can count on decent chemistry between the main characters.

I liked Xiaowen and gave it 3*.

Ah, well, if Higgins is a dog lover I might have to up my rating of the book overall by 0.5*. I'm a sucker for dogs.

[bex]

Here is where I'm going to confess that I needed some total brain candy after last week and reading another political memoir wasn't going to cut it, so I gave Higgins another chance and am now on my third book of hers in two days. Man they are all the same! But total brain candy so whatever lol.

[wkatie]

I listened to the audio version. Xe Sands is a great narrator, I love her voice. Other than that, it was decent fluff. I listened to it on long runs and enjoyed it for that.

[tacokick]

Oct 1, 2018 6:45:06 GMT -5 bex said:

Here is where I'm going to confess that I needed some total brain candy after last week and reading another political memoir wasn't going to cut it, so I gave Higgins another chance and am now on my third book of hers in two days. Man they are all the same! But total brain candy so whatever lol.

No book shame!! We all need a palate cleanser now and again.