andrew
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 353
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Post by andrew on Jul 7, 2019 9:53:18 GMT -5
Haven't read this but it might have been better, though maybe more controversial, if Patrick's new wife was willing to overlook his abandonment of his prior family because she herself didn't want to have children. It could be interesting to have a character with a pretty rare view like that without making her an ogre-villain.
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Post by eternalstudent on Jul 7, 2019 19:37:49 GMT -5
It's been quite a while since I read this book, but I remember being very frustrated that Zoe mentioned her interest in starting a family with Patrick despite the fact that he abandoned his 3 (or 4 ) children. I wish the book was more realistic by having Zoe's family members try to discourage her or at least be visible unhappy with the wedding. After I read this book as a 13 year old, I imagined an alternate version of this book in which Kristy knocks some sense into Zoe during the scene in which she talks about starting a family by telling her how difficult things were when Patrick left them. After that, Zoe would up and leave Patrick in a satisfying twist of irony. Of course, as has been discussed here, people in love with overlook things - even as big as this. Plus, it is very obvious she only knew Patrick's version of events.
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Post by oldmeanie on Sept 28, 2023 11:14:30 GMT -5
I remember liking this one when I read it. I still do, it's a surprisingly strong start to the regular FFs.
My review might be confusing, because I think it's more of a rant than a review. Lol.
So, first of all, I hate hate hate Patrick. He's awful from the get go. In the phone call sharing wedding news, he's like, "I know my kids wouldn't let me down!" Um, YOU let them down. You don't get to leave them for 7 years with barely any cards or phone calls (and abandon your daughter again after randomly dropping by in Stoneybrook), then act all entitled about these same kids attending your wedding. Why on earth would they be happy about that? Why was David Michael excluded? Did Patrick just forget DM (wouldn't put it past him)? I used to subscribe to the fan theory that DM isn't his biological child, and I could still see that. The whole "too young" excuse doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Is 7 really too young for something like this? I felt so bad for DM, since he really wanted to go and Charlie didn't.
Speaking of Charlie, I'm on his side here. His reaction makes total sense to me. He owes Patrick nothing. I am so glad that he didn't cave and decide to be his best man after all (also, I really don't know much about weddings because they bore me tbh. But asking Charlie and Sam to be his best men seems like a lot? Idk).
I really don't like that Elizabeth put so much pressure on Charlie. If he didn't go, Kristy or Sam couldn't either. That is EXTREMELY unfair. Charlie has every right not to go. For something this big, the three of them should have had the freedom to make their own decisions. Charlie was put in a bad position here, and I hate it. Am I way off base? I just really thought Elizabeth made the wrong decision. No wonder Charlie was so grouchy.
Patrick doesn't even know Kristy's chapter 2 traits, yet she's his clear favorite. Also, you'd think he'd know her better after the chapters in her portrait/ the movie (did Watson ever find out what was going on?). Hate.
I kind of wanted to quit this book in chapter 11 because of the b.s. Patrick was spewing. He tells them they didn't try to stay in touch. THEY. WERE. KIDS. WTF?! That was not on them! Then he goes and says Elizabeth didn't make it easy (cue more fan theories, but honestly just sounds like b.s. to me). Holy crap this toolbox of a man isn't even trying with his excuses!
I like Zoey, who seems pretty universally liked (in this thread and in the book). I really don't know what she sees in Patrick. I can't believe she wants to start a family with him. It defies all logic. I agree that she should have been childfree. Not only would that be cool to introduce to the BSC-verse (I don't think they ever really address childfree people. I vaguely remember Dawn saying she doesn't necessarily want kids? Might have been a fanfic or something), but it would make more sense in this situation. Maybe. No matter what, I think abandoning his kids would be seen as a red flag. I'm childfree and would nope out of a relationship with someone who did that.
The book was pretty well-done. It's nice to have the story flow consistently without a subplot. I like seeing Charlie and Sam fleshed out more. It's a pretty serious book overall, and I like that Kristy realizes that Sam is like Patrick in some ways. I think that the last part is rushed... I don't know, it felt like there needed to be something in between the wedding and being in Stoneybrook again. But maybe not, because that fits their relationship with Patrick more? Idk. The BSC meeting in the last chapter felt too sappy to me somehow, although I liked Mary Anne's insight.
Throughout the book, Sam calls him Dad and is the only one to do so. I understand his reaction too.
Overall, this one is a 6.5. I like the family-oriented books. It still reads like a BSC book minus the chapter 2 and baby-sitting. Might be a dumb thing to say, but it's kind of a relief. I do remember this one being better than the others.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,254
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Post by oldhickory on Sept 29, 2023 9:41:10 GMT -5
Been a while since I read FF so I don't remember anything about this book. Patrick never had a relationship with David Michael so I think he's wanting to reconnect and not thinking of DM the same way. It's monstrous and I don't excuse it. Poor DM. Not only was he rejected as a baby, but he's being rejected a second time by the same person and he's still too young to understand. He doesn't deserve any of it.
Elizabeth making Charlie decide for the other two kids is also monstrous. Charlie never has any agency and this is a horrible burden to force onto YOUR OWN CHILD. Terrible parenting.
I'm childfree and would only date people without kids. Based on how Patrick told the story, I could see myself saying "wow, good to see someone so self-aware who also agrees about not wanting kids." I have a feeling the girlfriend didn't get the true version of events, if she's sticking around even after seeing how his kids really feel about him.
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Post by oldmeanie on Oct 1, 2023 11:44:37 GMT -5
Been a while since I read FF so I don't remember anything about this book. Patrick never had a relationship with David Michael so I think he's wanting to reconnect and not thinking of DM the same way. It's monstrous and I don't excuse it. Poor DM. Not only was he rejected as a baby, but he's being rejected a second time by the same person and he's still too young to understand. He doesn't deserve any of it. Elizabeth making Charlie decide for the other two kids is also monstrous. Charlie never has any agency and this is a horrible burden to force onto YOUR OWN CHILD. Terrible parenting. I'm childfree and would only date people without kids. Based on how Patrick told the story, I could see myself saying "wow, good to see someone so self-aware who also agrees about not wanting kids." I have a feeling the girlfriend didn't get the true version of events, if she's sticking around even after seeing how his kids really feel about him. I felt so bad for DM here :/ And it never gets explained why Patrick basically forgot about him. I know! I can't believe I forgot about Elizabeth forcing Charlie to choose. Tbh, I think it would've been better if he didn't go. I don't understand Elizabeth's logic at all. It feels like unnecessary drama, because you know they end up going anyway. Elizabeth is not my favorite parent on re-read (although I still can't believe that Patrick has the audacity to blame her, and the kids for that matter, for not keeping in touch. Wtf). I'm guessing that too. I'm just wondering how he told the story to make himself look better? He didn't even send child support. I have a feeling he and Zoey won't last, and that he'll pull the same stunt.
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