Sarah Haywood

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK New York Times Bestseller "Fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine will love The Cactus." --Red magazine In this charming and poignant debut, one woman's unconventional journey to finding love means learning to embrace the unexpected. For 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. Enter Rob, the dubious but well-meaning friend of her indolent brother. As Susan's due date draws near and her dismantled world falls further into a tailspin, Susan finds an unlikely ally in Rob. She might have a chance at finding real love and learning to love herself, if only she can figure out how to let go.

The Cactus

haleigh

I can, with full confidence, say that this the worst book I have ever read. I took absolutely no joy in reading this novel and am actually upset over the fact that I spent any time or money on the thing. I normally trust a book with the "Reese's Book Club" stamp of approval on the cover but I will never be so quick to do that again. There are so many things with this book that I take issue with. First, I did not appreciate that every sentence read like the author was desperately trying to prove that she owned a thesaurus. Every time I put the book down I felt like I had just come off studying for the SAT vocabulary section -- annoyed and exhausted. Second, the back of the book must have been written by someone that looked at the cover and gave it their best shot because it gives a pretty false impression of what lies ahead of the reader. Of the 375 pages of this book, more than two-thirds of them are focused only on Susan's attempt to contest her mother's will rather than the romantic plot the back of the book suggests is bound to occur. Lastly, the overall storyline of the book is to develop Susan from the cold and emotionless woman that she is to a someone with a more tender and loving side as she progresses through her pregnancy and comes to love her child -- much like a cactus that is prickly and unwelcoming at first but has the potential to blossom beautifully -- but boy, was that botched. Susan remains cold and emotionless for the majority of the book and then seems to flip a switch in the last two chapters out of the blue, deciding to move in with a man she has seen in person only a handful of times and spoken to on the phone for a few weeks. The lack of proper character development is astounding for an "international bestseller". I initially purchased this book in physical form rather than via ebook in hopes of paying it forward but I cannot imagine the guilt that I would feel from burdening someone with the task of reading this book. Enjoy the cute cover art and leave this on the shelves.

Gisela Ayala 

This book was absolutely delightful. It is very true that if you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant, you may also enjoy this (I ADORE Eleanor Oliphant). Both protagonists share many qualities. BUT, whereas some people may say that Susan is an unlikable character, I might have to beg to differ. I liked her from the start. Or maybe it's just because I tend to like unlikable characters (when written right), but her outlook on life, her quips, and her general being was completely endearing to me. There are moments when I'm like, "Ugh Susan, no!" But that happens with likable characters. 

Her character growth along with the whole cast of side characters was inspiring and even helped with many doubts of my own! Every character felt fully developed to me with their own quirks and traits. It also makes a fair point throughout the book that not one's journey can ever be like one's own. Everyone has a different experience and the only thing that makes it bearable is having people that support and love you. 

I leave you with this quote: 

"But, these days, fairy-tale endings come in all shapes and sizes. It’s okay for the princess to end up with the prince, it’s okay for her to end up with the footman, it’s okay for her to end up on her own."

Gosh, I love this book.

Cheri McElroy

This is the story I wanted Elinor Oliphant to be. It was full of quirky characters with messy lives and I loved it. Susan’s transformation was a fun ride, made believable because it was still so incomplete.

Shan

I really enjoyed this one! It was a sweet and eye-opening read about change with a few plot twists.

Carla Maxwell

Brilliant Read

If you loved Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, the cactus is a must read! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommended to all 😄

Rebeca Keren Nuñez

Me costo un poco meterme en la historia, pero al final me termino atrapando. Hay giros inesperados y otros que me vi venir, siempre es bueno tener de ambos. Me identifiqué con algunas cosas del personaje principal.

Anika | @chaptersofmay

The Cactus is the story of a “prickly” woman’s journey to find unconventional love and true self-acceptance. 

Susan Green is a 45-year-old woman living independently in London. She believes she is content with her job, her relationships, her routines, and above all, her own company. But after suddenly losing her mother, battling with her brother, learning family secrets, and facing motherhood for herself, Susan’s entire world is quickly shaken. 

The protagonist is an acquired taste. Susan is a control freak, brazen, and occasionally hostile. She often fails to relate or empathise with the viewpoint of others around her. I love the way Haywood crafts Susan’s character and later her development. As the narrator, she’s not the most likeable, but gradually softens as the story grows in charm. Additionally, many of the other secondary characters are loveable from their introduction and bring a pleasant vibrancy to Susan’s sterile everyday life. 

The Cactus’ core themes are self-discovery, vulnerability and family. Susan has this sharp, protective shell around her heart, refusing to allow anyone peer past the surface. Through the occasional flashback to her childhood and young adult life, the reader understands why. While Susan’s pregnancy, personal battles, and family drama advance, so does her personality and potential, and it’s thoroughly enjoyable to read. I particularly loved Susan’s hilarious observations as she cultivates the ability to juggle uncertainty outside her strict routine. 

One thing I wish earned a little more attention was the romantic aspect. In one chapter it felt important to the character’s growth, and in others it didn’t. But this doesn’t overly affect the engaging pace of Susan’s impending motherhood and unravelling mysteries. To sum up, this debut is the kind that holds and uplifts. It’s entertaining, witty, and cleverly crafted. Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Rosie Project, and The Bookish Life of Nina Hill will likely enjoy The Cactus too.

Chelsea White

2 and a half stars.

Susan's growth in this book is pretty remarkable, she's had a hard life, even if she didn't quite realize it until much later on. I understand that she's an unreliable narrator in so many ways, but WOW was Edward over the top horrible. Her mother, too, was beyond cold to her (even with the twist that happens) in a way that made my heart ache for Susan.

***SPOILER AHEAD***

Once the news of Susan's adoption comes out, Edward acts as if she is a completely random woman who has no claim whatsoever to ANY of their mom's inheritance, which is not how it works? Did he genuinely not care for his own sister to the point that, when it was revealed they weren't actually related, he believed that meant their entire childhood growing up as brother and sister was a complete lie? I have two adopted cousins, and they're still my cousins, even if we aren't related by blood. They're still brother and sister, even if they aren't related by blood. This was actually a part of the book that made me angriest; that either the author had no understanding of growing up with siblings and the inherent bonds that creates (even if you don't get along), or that Edward was so malicious that finding out his sister was adopted gave him glee to know he could easily cut her out of his life because they weren't blood. Either way, it left me with a horrid sensation. This was one small part of the book that isn't revealed until the end, but its impact on my enjoyment of the book was fairly profound.

For 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 Susan's 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.

The Cactus

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