Ginder once again delivers a family saga populated with smart, funny, confused, and lovable yet profoundly irritating characters who desperately try to pull themselves together while simultaneously tearing each other apart. He examines the complexities of family with insight and humor in this deeply satisfying, laugh-out-loud novel.
Ginder completely redefines family dysfunction in this offbeat comedy of errors. Amid gorgeous Greek scenery, the Wright family, set on a collision path of destruction, have come to a miserable but hilariously inevitable fork in the road ... Whimsical, diabolical, and distinctive, this novel is an awkwardly funny but entertaining family tale.
... sensitive, lighthearted ... Ginder adds just the right amount of sparkling waters and ancient ruins to give this family drama a sunny lightness despite dark themes of infidelity and thwarted plans. Will and Sue Ellen's journeys to find versions of themselves not defined by their relationships with Dean feel authentic, the resolutions well-earned. Sometimes humorous and always witty, Honestly, We Meant Well will inspire readers to ponder their own roads less traveled.
... charming ... Ginder’s writing is funny and evocative; it skillfully touches on the passage of time in a family and in a marriage while effortlessly shifting points of view. Fans of clever, wistful stories will find much to love, and also appreciate the bonus classics tidbits.
Combining farcical elements with more earnest plotlines, the novel never quite achieves liftoff. Ginder is at his best when he's over the top ... Reliably entertaining and intelligent, Ginder is an excellent tour guide for both the sunny Greek islands and the darker channels of the human heart.
