Looking at real estate isn't usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can't fix up their own marriage. There's a wealthy banker who has been too busy making money to care about anyone else, and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can't seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her ace, a flustered, but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment's only bathroom, and you've got the worst group of hostages in the world.
Each of them carries a life time of grievances, hurts, secrets and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them- the bank robber included- desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in a motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.
Loved
- The compassion. For the first third-ish of this book, I remember thinking "Wow these people are all jerks, why can't anyone be thoughtful?" But it turns out all of these characters are compassionate, understanding, and empathetic in their own quirky ways. As the hostages confide in each other, they each have a moment of realization that everyone else in the apartment is just like them- each wants to be understood, loved, and be good enough. The empathy and understanding they show each other is small, imperfect, and downright silly at times, but it is very moving (and tear-jerking!) how every character gives and receives love during this story.
- The character development. For every single character, there was one or two points in the story where I was completely annoyed with them and couldn't stand them. But as we learn each character's story, hurts, wants, and heartaches, we come to completely love each character- even with, and especially because of- their silly quirks and odd habits and personalities. Every single character in the story has a moment where he/she connects with someone else and realizes he/she is good enough and strong enough to face struggles and heartaches. Because of these realizations, every character also makes a choice to love and give to someone else, rather than judge or even give them the justice they deserve for their mistakes. The relationships these people form in the half a day they are stuck together in an apartment is so moving because it's so realistic in many ways- we could all connect to each other deeply if we just took the time to listen, understand, and empathize with each other.
- The wackiness. This story is downright wacky at times. I found myself laughing out loud at how completely ridiculous some of the events were, but mostly at how these characters were so predictable in their quirks and goofy personalities. We come to know the characters so well that we appreciate how silly some of their habits are, and how relatable each person is because of their oddities and quirks.
- The story format. This format is very unique in that it's told both through real-time events and through witnesses recalling what happened. The author was clever at dropping small clues to keep us wondering what would happen next, while creating an interesting mystery as to what actually happened and how the hostage situation really did end. The writing was very engaging, and the author hooks readers from chapter to chapter by keeping us guessing at what bizarre event could possibly explain an even more bizarre clue.
Didn't Love
- At first I was annoyed with the characters, because some of them were so rude to each other and so self-centered. However, after finishing the book I realize that the characters are unselfish and loving, and I love each of them for their unique personalities. Only a skilled author can make readers annoyed with every character, and by the end have readers love and appreciate each one.
Content
Content
- Language:
- Frequent uses of "damn" and "hell."
- A few uses of "bastard."
- Frequent uses of the Lord's name in vain.
- Sexual content:
- Many references to affairs.
- Conversation about a couple's first sexual encounter- no details.
- Author jokes that adults don't know how sex works- a few jokes related to this.
- Violence
- Group of people are taken hostage with a gun, no violence.
- A man jumps off a bridge and commits suicide.
- One man punches another in the head.
- Other themes:
- LGBTQ+ representation: Two of the main characters are a married female-female couple.
- Suicide: There is a completed suicide in this story and a few attempts. Two of the characters deal with depression and think about suicide, but end up getting help and working through it.
- Frequent uses of "damn" and "hell."
- A few uses of "bastard."
- Frequent uses of the Lord's name in vain.
- Many references to affairs.
- Conversation about a couple's first sexual encounter- no details.
- Author jokes that adults don't know how sex works- a few jokes related to this.
- Group of people are taken hostage with a gun, no violence.
- A man jumps off a bridge and commits suicide.
- One man punches another in the head.
- LGBTQ+ representation: Two of the main characters are a married female-female couple.
- Suicide: There is a completed suicide in this story and a few attempts. Two of the characters deal with depression and think about suicide, but end up getting help and working through it.
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