Books and Jams Readalong discussion

How do you feel about this book so far? Are you liking Rachel? Do you have any predictions or thoughts about what you've read so far or what you think/hope will happen in the rest of the book?

I just finished Part 1 tonight. I find Lehane's writing to be very easy and quick. He draws me right into Rachel's story without much work on my part. I like that in a book. I don't particularly care for Rachel, but I find that I want to. I can't imagine the frustration of wanting to know who your father is and being blatantly denied that information.

I was struck by the scenes in Haiti. I've been to Haiti twice a few years after the earthquake and still the devastation and poverty is like nothing I could imagine. And that was years after the fact. I was in Cite Soleil tent city and still gang violence was a very real problem. I know it was even worse in the weeks/months right after the earthquake. Her breakdown on camera didn't surprise me. The clash of cultures is so difficult to work through with help and she didn't have anyone talking with her about that. I was furious with her husband's response - but not surprised based on comments Jeremy James had made about him.

Speaking of Jeremy I wish she could have found him sooner and spent more time with him before his strokes. Even knowing he wasn't her birth father he became the father figure she so desperately needed. I can imagine it was super awkward for his family, but good for him for staying connected to her.

We have seen glimpses of Rachel's mental state - panic attacks and tendency toward agoraphobia (is that the right word?) and I have a feeling things are going to get worse pretty soon.

I'm curious about Brian and the role he will play in the story. He keeps popping up, and I know Part 2 is titled Brian. haha.

I can't wait to hear what you guys are thinking so far!!

I want to join you on reading this book Krista, but I have to find my copy...my hubby has been helping me organize my huge book collection, and he boxed this one up, have to go through some boxes to hopefully find it, your review of it so far sounds like it's going to be an interesting read!

I just finished this section. Tge first sentence in the prologue was so powerful.
(Have you noticed that the last 3 books have all started with a snapshot of the end?)

Midway through this part I couldn't connect Rachel with being able to shoot her husband. At the end now, it is easy to see how that break could happen.

Jeremy seems like the most likable and yet I fault him for not reaching out to Rachel before she found him.

Cassie wrote: "I just finished this section. Tge first sentence in the prologue was so powerful.
(Have you noticed that the last 3 books have all started with a snapshot of the end?)

Midway through this part I c..."

I wondered about Jeremy too. Why didn't he reach out! He didn't have to go through all the hoopla of figuring out who she was! Wonder how different she would have been if she had more of him in her life.

I felt the same way about Rachel shooting her husband. It didn't connect at first. I liked how the paranoia was slowly introduced though. Kept me questioning, that's for sure!

I didn't notice that about the snapshots! haha. Didn't do it on purpose! LOL

Just finished the first part and I'm anxious to see how it all will unfold. I think we'll get more of the story when we can read more about Brian and his connection.

I feel sorry for Rachael having to deal with the after effects of her mother's secrets. I personally understand wanting to know who your parents are or in her case her dad. I'm adopted and have no one to ask about my biological parents, if I have siblings. I can't imagine asking someone questions who can give me answers but refuse to, no matter how bad the information may be.
At least she got to meet Jeremy before his stoke and have a relationship with him. I do feel he was in a tough place to seek Rachael out once her mother threateed him with rape if he tried to come back into her life. Once he married and had kids, how could he look for her and not get his family involved potentially with Rachael mother who was very toxic. I'm sure he didn't want to expose his children to that dysfunction. After she died, I think he figured he just didn't want to go down that road for the sake of his kids. But once she found him, he sincerely wanted to have a relationship with her eventhough it was unconfortable for his family.

I can't wait to see how everything will unfold. At the moment, I don't have a clue where this is going.

Patricia wrote: "Just finished the first part and I'm anxious to see how it all will unfold. I think we'll get more of the story when we can read more about Brian and his connection.

I feel sorry for Rachael havin..."


Thanks for sharing your connection, Patricia. I wasn't adopted, but have adopted siblings. Some of them were curious about their birth parents and some weren't. I can't imagine knowing someone has the information you want and refuses to give it too you AND without explaining a good reason!

I get what you're saying about Jeremy reaching out and that makes sense. Rachel's mother did make that pretty impossible for him. And he had no way of knowing how badly Rachel wanted to find him.

Buckle your seatbelt. Things are going to speed up in Part 2.

I started reading today and just finished up the first section. Not sure how I feel about Rachel, definitely so major stress and anxiety issues there. Her mom really played with her I feel like. To hold who you father is from you and then oops you made a mistake now I am not going to tell you for another two years really who does that. To me that was not love that was control.
I am glad that she did finally find out who her father was. I actually was thinking it was possible the bartender by the way Jeremy and Rachel noticed her staring into the glass. It just stinks that he had already passed away by the time she found out.

I was glad that Jeremy became a part of her life for a bit, and I do agree with everyone that if he was more in her life would she be a totally different person. Less stressed and way more less anxiety or would the anger of her mother still cause her issues.

Looking forward to reading on. I do wonder about Brian it is weird how he knows what she is doing almost like he is stalking her. And what was up with the way he acted we she saw him out in the city?

Just wrapped up part 1 and so far I'm drawn to the story. I'm listening to the audio book and the narrator is doing a good job of becoming Rachel's character. I appreciate how Lehane started off with mentioning Rachel killed her husband because that definitely caught my attention from the get-go. After reading part 1, I'm not surprised it would end like this. But already you can tell her and Sebastian are growing apart. Finding her father was a big important part of her life and he was just not very supportive. Then after the breakdown she had, he seemed to drift even further away. Speaking of her breakdown, I just kept imagining what it would look like since I've seen a few clips of some pretty intense anxiety from newscasters on YouTube. Rachel has carried a lot of distress with her since childhood and that's probably a reflection of the baggage her mother brought into their relationship. It's sad and I've read a few books of this scenario; these characters are always so broken.

Going into part 2 I'm curious to see the story behind Brian's character as I I feel there is something a little off about him.

I'm finally able to start this book! Right now, I've made it to page 38, so I won't read these other comments too closely yet haha. I'm pleasantly surprised at how easy Lehane's writing is to get through. I honestly thought I'd pick it up and force myself to really get into it, but it's been nice so far. I'll check back in later; it's nice to join the conversation now! :)