Review and giveaway: Pictures of You
When Isabelle learns that her husband has a girlfriend and that his girlfriend is pregnant, she does what anyone would do, and leaves him. As she’s leaving Cape Cod, heading for New York, she encounters some dense fog. Before she knows it, she’s on top of a woman standing by her car that is facing the wrong way with its lights turned off. With little time to react, Isabelle hits the car, killing April, the young mother who was standing by her car. Sam, April’s nine year old son, ran into the woods just before the accident, so he survives with minor injuries.
After the accident, Isabelle is wracked with guilt and grief. She becomes obsessed with young Sam and his father, Charlie, and ends up connecting with them after a few encounters. But what kind of relationship can they have after a beginning like that?
Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt is a marvelous book! I was captivated by this book right from the start. I had to know how Isabelle was going to cope with the tragedy and found her decisions to be interesting, even when I didn’t agree with them. The character development is so good in this book that I felt like Isabelle, Sam and Charlie were all friends by the time I turned the last page, so I usually understood their motivations. (April, on the other hand, remained a mystery.)
The story in this book is fascinating and thought provoking. How do you go on after an accident like that, especially when your own marriage has just disintegrated? Why do others judge someone in a situation like that? I read this for my online book club, and I’m sure we’ll have lots to discuss when we meet. I’m still thinking about this book days after finishing it.
There’s also an air of mystery to the book. No one knows why April was out on that road, hours away from home, with her young son and a suitcase in her car, of if they do know, they’re not telling. I turned the pages as fast as I could, hoping to find out.
At one point, I was afraid that Pictures of You was going to go in a certain direction and become totally predictable, and boy, was I wrong! This book kept me guessing right up to the end. The ending was great, but all the loose ends weren’t tied up in a neat little bow. I really liked this book a lot!
I happen to have an extra copy of Pictures of You to offer to one lucky reader. To enter to win PICTURES OF YOU by Caroline Leavitt, simply fill out this entry form. Contest is open worldwide. I will use random.org to determine the winner. Contest ends at midnight EST Monday, February 28, 2011. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. Comments are welcome (and appreciated) but will not get you an entry in the contest.
I’ve been hearing a lot about this one and am glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I’m curious to know if we ever find out why April was standing there in the road….
I’ve been meaning to get to this one; glad you liked it.
Congrats on your own domain.
Well, I just won a signed bookplate from this author on Beth Fish Reads, so I’m feeling like the moons might be aligning! I feel like I must read this book after all the positive press…one of those books that grip you despite the grave plot, like Red Hook Road.
I love a good book with depths in characters and with a suprising end. Great review. Sounds like a good book.
This one has had a lot of twitter buzz recently – glad to see you liked it as well!
Sounds like something I would enjoy .. I’ve already signed up for the giveaway!
I’ve read glowing reviews for this book. I recently checked it out from the library and I’m looking forward to reading it.
“This book kept me guessing right up to the end.” I love when that happens, when you really get surprised where the author takes you…sounds like a winner.
So glad you loved this one. Caroline as a person is as terrific as her book.
I like books that keep me turning pages with a little mystery element. Great review!
You captured this one really well. It’s so much more than the publisher’s summary implies.
You already know how much I loved this one. Great review!
I have heard such good things about this book all over the place! I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it and that it wasn’t predictable, because I really hate that. I am entering your awesome giveaway so I can have a chance to read it for myself, maybe!
Wow. This sounds intense. Now I want to know what happens too. Fantastic review.
I’ve put this one on my TBR — great review!
sounds like I would enjoy this book, I did sign up for the giveaway. Thanks!
Sounds like a very intriguing read, Kathy.
Ooh, this definitely sounds like one that will keep you up – I can’t imagine how a relationship of any kind, especially a positive one, can happen between Sam and his father and Isabelle! I’m looking forward to this one even more so 🙂
Great review and giveaway, thanks for the chance. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this book. I can’t wait to read it.
Thanks for the review & giveaway. I really want to read this book now to find out the outcome LoL
Love & Hugs,
Pam
This sounds so powerful! And also like it would make a great movie!
You make this sound so good now I just have to read it.
I’d enter to win but I already have a copy and I love it!!!! XOXOXOX
I have this book and now I have to make sure I get to it sooner than soon…thank you for a lovely interesting review!!!
That says a lot if you are still thinking about the book days after finishing it! What a great compliment to any writer!
Looking forward to this one. Thanks for the great review.
Great review….book sounds like something I would like.
THANKS for the giveaway.
I am torn, I wanna know that mystery but it also sounds so sad…so torn
Amazon has recently started recommending this one to me but I hadn’t seen it around, great review, I am very intrigued. Thanks for the opportunity to possibly win also.
I’ve got this book and can’t wait to read it. I’m glad you liked it!
This sounds like a page turner!
This is one of those books that I just keep hearing great things about! I want to read it so badly so I am so glad to hear you are offering a giveaway!
This sounds great, Kathy! I will enter the giveaway, and also add it to my blog’s sidebar. 🙂
I am about halfway through this book, and can’t put it down! If you like Jodi Picoult, you will love this author.
I’ m glad you loved this book! I am pretty fascinated with the synopsis of the book and hope to read sometime!
I love the air of mystery about this one!! I hope your book discussion is fantastic! 😀
Oh, wow this sounds like a powerful read!
I would love the chance to win this one. Sounds emotional!
To be honest, and this is so shallow, I’ve been skipping over reviews for this one because the cover just doesn’t catch me. I’m glad I stopped to actually read what it’s about though. It sounds like a story I could get engrossed in.
I haven’t paid much attention to this one but it sounds great!! Definitely like it would make a great book club pick!
This book sounds interesting. Enjoyed the review.
I had seen this book around, but never actually stopped to read a review. Thanks, it sounds interesting enough. And, not least, thank you for making this giveaway international!
That is a very intense way to start a relationship. It seems like something that you couldn’t get over — this is the woman who killed your wife/mother — albeit by accident. You’ve got me interested.
I would love to win this!!
You review piqued my interest in this book. I was under the impression that it was similar to many other stories but happy to discover from your review that I’m wrong about this. Thank you for setting me straight! And now I have an exciting new book to list on my tbr (and enter to win in your giveaway!).
Thanks Kathy!
~ Amy
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it and that it wasn’t predictable. I wasn’t so sure about this one when I received it unexpectedly, but now I’m looking forward to reading it.
Just finished the book and it was wonderful! I would recommend to anyone who likes the writing style of Jodi Picoult. I have actually logged on to my library’s book catalog and am putting a hold on some of her earlier works.
Great review and will add this one to the reading list.
What a premise and interested in seeing how she deals with the whole guilt of her accident.
Thank goodness I’m still able to participate in this. I love the story and I hope to be able to get my hands on it. Thanks for the worldwide giveaway!