Two-Family House (Loigman) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
It’s hard to believe The Two-Family House is Lynda Cohen Loigman’s debut novel. A richly textured, complex, yet entirely believable story.... As compelling as the story line are the characters that Loigman has drawn here. None is wholly likable nor entirely worthy of scorn. All are achingly human, tragically flawed and immediately recognizable. We watch them change and grow as the novel spans more than 20 years....engrossing from beginning to end.
Associated Press


Where Loigman excels is in capturing the time period—1950s Brooklyn.... Loigman nails the way family members, especially parents and children, inadvertently pierce one another with careless comments or subtle looks. As the story unfolds, we are reminded of how a split-second decision can reverberate for decades, even for generations.... [T]he real strength of Loigman’s debut effort is her characters, to whom you find your loyalty shifting as the story unfolds.
Jerusalem Post


Peeling back the layers that surround an irreversible, life-altering secret, this novel weaves a complex and heartbreaking story about lies and love, forgiveness and family. Written from alternating perspectives of the different family members over more than two decades, the deeply developed voices will bring tears and awe, settling snugly into the heart and mind. It’s a reminder that love is always forgiving.
Romance Times Reviews


[E]ngrossing.... Loigman's use of shifting perspectives allows readers to witness first-hand...secrets and the insidious lies that cover them up. This historical family drama has a dark underbelly, but Loigman's decision to let the reader in on the secret allows the setting and mood of the novel take over as the characters move haltingly toward redemption and peace.
Publishers Weekly


In her first novel, Loigman uses complex characters to deconstruct the anatomy of family relationships and expose deep-rooted emotions, delivering a moving story of love, loss, and sacrifice.
Booklist


The Two-Family House takes you on a tour of dysfunction and deep and abiding love in a way that reflects the entanglements that come with a close-living family.... [I]ts examination of generations of a family with their own high expectations to live up to resonates on several different levels.... [T]his very literary tale actually gives readers so much more than it may seem at first.
Book Reporter


A debut novel explores the intertwining lives of two Brooklyn families.... That Loigman mistakes clamor for vigor is unfortunate. She had the beginnings of a powerful work here. This compelling novel strains beneath its own aspirations and never quite comes to life.
Kirkus Reviews