51 pages 1 hour read

Maria Semple

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple follows Bernadette Fox, a reclusive former architect in Seattle who mysteriously vanishes prior to a planned family trip to Antarctica. Her tech-savvy daughter, Bee, sifts through emails, letters, and documents to unravel the truth about her mother's disappearance. Sensitive topics include miscarriages, heart defects, and mental health concerns.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Maria Semple's novel Where'd You Go, Bernadette offers an engaging and humorous exploration of family dynamics and personal discovery. Reviewers appreciate its sharp wit and unique narrative style, but some note uneven pacing and underdeveloped secondary characters. Despite minor flaws, it's widely praised for its creativity and emotional depth.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

A reader who enjoys quirky, character-driven narratives with a blend of humor and emotional depth, reminiscent of Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections or Maria Meno's Big Trouble, would find Where'd You Go, Bernadette compelling. Ideal for fans of satirical social commentary and epistolary storytelling.

RecommendedReading Age

15-18years

Lexile Level

HL820L

Book Details

Themes

Relationships: Mothers

Genre

Humor

Mystery / Crime Fiction

Modern Classic Fiction