The Unwilling is a historical fiction, set in the South during the Vietnam War. A dysfunctional family is at its core, with the members torn apart by war, death, and misunderstandings. Gibby is a teenager, with one brother dead from an enemy's bullet and one in prison. When Jason is released and comes back to forge a bond with his little brother, what happens when the past catches up with him? Can a person ever outrun the misconceptions that others have?
Trouble had a way of following Jason. His story would have been compelling had the book been about his time in Vietnam and his struggles to reconnect to the outside world, but the entire subplot about prison ruined the book for me. This side plot seemed to be there for both shock value and a way to get characters into certain situations. There was a lack of realism that I just could not get past. Overall, I liked the characters of Jason and Gibby, but I did not enjoy the story as a whole. For this reason, I would be hesitant to recommend The Unwilling to other readers.
Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press. The decision to review this novel entirely was my own.
Trouble had a way of following Jason. His story would have been compelling had the book been about his time in Vietnam and his struggles to reconnect to the outside world, but the entire subplot about prison ruined the book for me. This side plot seemed to be there for both shock value and a way to get characters into certain situations. There was a lack of realism that I just could not get past. Overall, I liked the characters of Jason and Gibby, but I did not enjoy the story as a whole. For this reason, I would be hesitant to recommend The Unwilling to other readers.
Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press. The decision to review this novel entirely was my own.