Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is heads and shoulders above any Kindle First Book I've ever gotten. I mostly get the Kindle First for my husband because he likes thrillers and ain't picky; I haven't found these books good enough for me. But I read the first few pages in the Look Inside and was convinced because I laughed so hard! This book is actually translated from a acclaimed foreign author, which is why it is so much better than your average Kindle First free book. It has tremendous insight into human nature, and the plot and the writing are both superb. It is nothing like the introduction of this book, where it says something about some woman's children are grown and gone, so now she's lonely...it's not like that at all! That's like saying Harry Potter series is about a boy's parents got killed by an enemy, so he grew up seeking revenge. That totally obscures how amazing the series is! Similarly, the House by the River is not just about a woman but about everybody: the woman, her husband, his parents, her parents, her five daughters, their husbands...it goes into detail about each person's life and dream. It is astonishingly good, the kind of book that blows you away with its honesty, tenderness, humor, and a clear view of the human condition, not to mention beautiful writing and intriguing plot. If you are going to read just one book this year, read the House by the River.