The Cactus

I'm feeling a bit prickly about this Reece Witherspoon pick. Reece and I don't always see eye-to-eye on books we love, and that's okay. But I expected more from this book which turned out to be lackluster and I failed to see any humour in it.

I listened to the digital audiobook and the story itself was okay, but the main character Susan Green was more annoying than quirky or engaging. Her character has been compared to Eleanor Oliphant and those are BIG shoes to fill. Don't go waving around Eleanor's name willy-nilly! I loved that book and character, and I obviously do not make that same comparison. Susan is nothing like Eleanor.

Susan is why this book didn't gel with me. Her rigidity and stubbornness about the issues with her brother and their sibling rivalry felt frustratingly contrived. Susan came off as unbelievably emotionally immature and I couldn't connect with her and while the author throws in a bit of mystery about their family dynamics, it wasn't enough to save this book for me.

I'm an outlier with this book. It was an easy listen on the drive back from Boston, but it is not a story or character who will stay with me long.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Sarah Haywood

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: eAudiobook from public library

Narrator: Katherine Manners

Run Time: 10.5 hours

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

First Published in print: January 2018

Book Description from GoodReads: Even the prickliest cactus has its herself; Susan Green, messy emotions don't fit into the equation of her perfectly ordered life. She has a flat that is ideal for one, a job that suits her passion for logic, and an "interpersonal arrangement" that provides cultural and other, more intimate, benefits. But suddenly confronted with the loss of her mother and the news that she is about to become a mother herself; Susan's greatest fear is realized. She is losing control. When she learns that her mother's will inexplicably favors her indolent brother, Edward, Susan's already dismantled world is sent flying into a tailspin. As her due date draws near and her family problems become increasingly difficult to ignore, Susan finds help and self-discovery in the most unlikely of places. Featuring an endearing cast of characters and tremendous heart, The Cactus is a poignant debut and a delightful reminder that some things can't be explained by logic alone.