Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsCalling it in
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022
I read the book on a recent day when stuck indoors due to weather. It’s a typical Steel novel of heartbreak and then recovery, but it felt like she was “calling it in”. The two antagonists were despicable (IMO) and the heroine was a sweet young girl who essentially raised herself. Her father’s character development was disappointing; after growing up without a father you’d think he’d bend over backward to help his daughter. In the end, he’s just as self-centered and narcissistic as his first wife.
I didn’t quite understand why Antonia’s (our heroine) made her appearance in the second half of the book when she did. You’d think she’d appear as Antonia was becoming a successful actress.
Of course there is a tragic, defining event (as if Antonia’s upbringing wasn’t enough) and then love at the end. The love interest sort of appears without a lot of character development. It seems like the end of the book was rushed.
Some of Steel’s latest books aren’t as well-developed and thought out as her earlier books. I read it quickly because her books are fast reads (a short flight or rainy afternoon or 2 hours on the stationary bike) but it wasn’t my favorite and I’m sort of sorry I bothered.
