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Well-said and happy to read your perspective on this!

I liked it more than you did, Dianne, but I totally get it! The last part of the book really dragged on for me, and when it was over, left me I satisfied somehow.

Nice critique, Dianne!

Kristin (KC) - Traveling Sister wrote: "Well-said and happy to read your perspective on this!"

Thanks, Kristin.

Renata wrote: "I liked it more than you did, Dianne, but I totally get it! The last part of the book really dragged on for me, and when it was over, left me I satisfied somehow."

Yes, Renata, I felt the same way. So glad you enjoyed it, though!

Paula wrote: "Nice critique, Dianne!"

Thanks, Paula!

I’m with you Dianne. I didn’t love this as much as most did.

oh my - I'm not sure I like 'women's literature' eek. I have this on my table ready to go shortly....hope your next one is more your cuppa

Jen wrote: "oh my - I'm not sure I like 'women's literature' eek. I have this on my table ready to go shortly....hope your next one is more your cuppa"

Yes, the one I am reading now is definitely more up my alley. Lots of my GR friends loved “Crawdads,�� I hope you do too!

I'm half way through with this one. Not loving it like I did in the beginning. Nice review Dianne

Jeannie wrote: "I'm half way through with this one. Not loving it like I did in the beginning. Nice review Dianne"

Thanks, Jeannie. Hoping it picks up for you - I’ll watch for your review.

Dianne, I appreciate your honest review of this, it's very informative!

Liz wrote: "Dianne, I appreciate your honest review of this, it's very informative!"

Thanks, Liz.

I hope you love your next read, Dianne!

Deanna wrote: "I hope you love your next read, Dianne!"

I did, thanks Deanna!

My experience exactly. The descriptions of nature were beautiful. The story itself was too contrived for me and I thought it bordered on the saccharine.

Just finished this and I feel the same as you. Think my expectations might have been too high with all the glowing reviews. Thanks for an honest review Dianne. At least we have each other at the “outlier�� table. 😊

Lindsay - Traveling Sister wrote: "Just finished this and I feel the same as you. Think my expectations might have been too high with all the glowing reviews. Thanks for an honest review Dianne. At least we have each other at the “o..."

Nobody I’d rather be with at that table! 😉

Sorry this one didn't live up to your expectations Dianne. I appreciate your honesty.

(Bern) Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas wrote: "Sorry this one didn't live up to your expectations Dianne. I appreciate your honesty."

Thanks, Bern.

Not challenging you on your interpretation, Dianne, but could you elaborate on the "women's fiction" assessment? Focus on local/internal/emotional issues or something else? Sometimes it is hard to capture that elusive term.

(view spoiler)[I don’t know that “women’s literature�� is the proper term for it, but what I mean is this is a genre that appeals almost exclusively to women. You won’t see a lot of men reading these books; look at the reviewers. It “consists of heroine-centered narratives that focus on the trials and tribulations of their individual protagonists�� (this is from Wikipedia). Nothing wrong with this, but where I PERSONALLY become disenchanted is when there is a romance that has a melodramatic tinge to it. The male love interest is heroic and deeply sensitive (e.g. a teenage boy bringing a book on menstruation to a teenage girl because he “senses�� the time might be right and she may know nothing about it), the villain is a manipulative rapist and the heroine is intrepid but vulnerable and neither man can get her out of their minds. Those story lines are shopworn and novels with that formula are not usually interesting to me. The writing may be great and there may be, as in this novel, lovely descriptions of the natural world, but ultimately, I often can’t get past “the formula.��

I am fine with local/internal/emotional issues.

I hope I was able to articulate what I meant by women’s literature without offending anyone. I dearly loved this genre when I was younger, perhaps binged on these books way too much which is why I now find them predictable. (hide spoiler)]

I took it off my TBR, after reading JanB's review.

Bianca wrote: "I took it off my TBR, after reading JanB's review."

I agree with everything she said - lots of people liked it, though. 🤷🏼‍♀��

You are not alone! Most overly hyped book of the year.

I am really surprised no one balks at that ending..... I am not good at writing reviews, but agree - it was a very pretty book but the story didn't "wow" and the ending killed it for me.

I think I mentioned it in my review. It was supposed to be a big surprise--NOT.

Agreed! It really killed the main character for me.... :(

Probably not the best choice for a 62 year old man. LOL. I did enjoy her writing style, but the storyline was sophomoric & very predictable. The characters & setting were pretty great. Maybe she’ll write something better with the same cast & crew? 😆

Micheal wrote: "Probably not the best choice for a 62 year old man. LOL. I did enjoy her writing style, but the storyline was sophomoric & very predictable. The characters & setting were pretty great. Maybe she’ll..."

Michael, I feel your pain! You made my point for me, we are in agreement - except about using the same cast and crew for another book! 😜

Great review!! 😊💕

Melissa �� Dog/Wolf Lover �� wrote: "Great review!! 😊💕"

Thank you, Melissa! 🙂

You’re welcome!! 😊💕

Like you, the story seemed a little contrived. However, I still loved reading this book and inhabiting that marshland and bays.

Elaine wrote: "Like you, the story seemed a little contrived. However, I still loved reading this book and inhabiting that marshland and bays."

Yes, that was most definitely the high point of the book, Elaine.

I enjoyed it but think I expected too much. I had the ending figured out and felt like the character development was limited.

The prologue absolutely captivated me and even though generally I am not a fiction reader, I couldn't wait to dive in. However it didn't take too long before I said oh maybe not. I was hoping for the kind of nature intensity that Anthony Doerr brings to All the Light We Cannot See but was disappointed . That having been said, her nature writing was delicious. I love the Simplicity and vastness of the marsh. However, the ending is something I just can't seem to get over. This is my first review and I hope I'm not risking giving away too much but for those who have read it I have a problem with the Firefly metaphor being applied. I have seen an interview where Owens refers to the character as herself and as a little champion. I simply cannot go there with her.

Totally agree with Diane, wrote pretty much the same review myself

Rather a disappointment.

I loved the book, but totally agree Dianne with your comment response to Trish, back on 30/09/2018 4:50pm.
Alot of unbelievable situations but putting those bits aside, this one really pulled at my heart strings. And a great mystery to boot 👌

Dianne thx for for comments on “Crawdads.�� You put into words what I was feeling. I appreciated the company.

Agree with you 100%!

women's literature. ugh. right? i am in the same camp as you. thank you for sharing your unpopular opinion. ; )

I’m about the 50% mark and not sure if I should waste my time. It feels like a Hallmark movie. Or a Nicholas Sparks Book. I may have to scrap it. Thought maybe I was alone. I should stick with my warning sign: If it’s on the bestseller list, chances are it’s not going to be good. I rest my case.

I liked, was bored, liked, was bored.....Ugh. I can't read like that. I finished it and managed to give it three stars. But I'm done. You are not alone! :)

agree with you, enjoyed the marsh especially since I listened to it while SUPing on a lake with lots of birds, the rest of the story was just ho-hum.

So, so many plot problems. I loved the descriptions of the marsh, but too many plot holes for me and characters acting uncharacteristically... I don't get all the praise...

I agree with you. I found it predicable and the writing to be juvenile.

It's taking me a very long time to get through this. Like you, Dianne, I will likely give 3* at best. I'm in the minority as well, I guess.

I agree! Nice to know I’m not alone- , it had to string a whiff of a Hallmark movie.