Book Review: The Guineveres by Sarah Domet

When I enjoy a book, I become invested in it. I crave the very moment I can delve deep into its pages. The Guineveres  is not one ...

book reviews, booksparks


When I enjoy a book, I become invested in it. I crave the very moment I can delve deep into its pages. The Guineveres is not one of those books.

Brief synopsis: When four girls, all named Guinevere, end up at a convent, they form an immediate bond that holds them close together. They all crave freedom and are willing to do whatever they can to get back out into the real world around them. Set during the war (the specific war is never mentioned, but I'm thinking either World War II or Vietnam), this novel touches on what it truly means to have faith.

I'll be honest - as always - this book bored me half to death. Each of the characters (Gwen, Win, Ginny, and Vere) have so much more potential for character development. While the book teases some development, there was so much more that could have been done with the book. Gwen is the flirty, beautiful one. Win is more masculine. Ginny is artsy and sensitive. And Vere - the main character that's telling the story - is innocent and faithful (a goody-goody, if you will).

The majority of the novel revolves around these boys in the book who are back from war and comatose. The girls declare them as "Our Boys" for the selfish reason that if they were to wake up, the girl who claimed the boy would get to go home and nurse the boy back to health. While I get the concept, it was very odd to me. The characters become obsessed with these boys, all so they can escape the convent.

In between the chapters about the days living at the convent, there are different chapters that tell the story of different saints. Then there is also a chapter a piece for each of the girls' "revival stories," which are the stories of how to girls ended up at the convent. The revival story chapters were my favorite. They were the most exciting chapters and really taught you the most about each girl.

The main chapters were being told by Vere from present day, but skipped around from the convent days to more present days and back again. Because of the jumping around, the story-telling was confusing and sloppy.

Then there was this weird thing where I kept expecting creepy things to happen to the girls, but they never did - which made me question why I felt that way. Was that the author's doing, or am I just used to different types of stories? Not to mention, the ending had my rolling my eyes. I really just didn't like the characters or anything. I know that there was a deeper meaning behind the story that I'm sure can be appreciated, but the entertainment factor was very low.

I really wasn't a fan of The Guineveres. It was anticlimactic and thoroughly a snooze. I wouldn't recommend this novel.













I received this book free for review from Booksparks, however, all opinions, as always, are 100% my own.

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