Family

Ughhhh I'm so disappointed. 
I loved the first 2 “acts” of this book. Even if it is literally Charles Manson's story.  I don't even think you could say it's “inspired by”  because really the only thing they bothered to change was that Charles's name was “Henry”. 
 But I was still really enjoying it! 
I love a novel told in verse, and found Ostow's writing style to be very beautiful. 
I really enjoyed the fact that this didn't feel like I was being told a story, it felt like I was reading Mel's diary. I wasn't drawn into it feeling like I was experiencing what happened the way most novels are and it was a refreshing take on a cult novel. 
I could really Mel's delusions about Henry and her belief in the family. And it was so cool. Getting that perspective from a cult member? I was eating it up. 

And then we hit act 3. Which is just repeating previous chapters with a bit more information thrown in to clarify things. And maybe it's because I read this in one sitting but I don't want to read the same chapters over again 100 pages later. So that already knocked it down probably half a star for me. 

And then the spoilery bits that knocked another half star off. This just wasn't what I wanted from an ending. For Mel to suddenly find clarity and give up on Henry and the entire family? I hated it. I wish we would have kept the brainwashed perspective through until the end. I understand wanting your character to be reformed and gave a “happy ending” where the main character is free from the cult. But it really sucked for me!
I'm just bummed because the first half I was thinking this could be at least a high 3 star, and I didn't understand the low average rating. 
Well... the second half ruined it. 
I've had this book on my shelves for like 8 years though and it's survived countless unhauls so I'm glad I finally got to it and I'll no longer be plagued by the mystery of “Family by Micol Ostow”. 
I just wish I'd enjoyed it more than I did.