lita_tori's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
In Case of Emergency follows Bel, who after accidentally falling down a hole into a beer cellar, finds herself waking up in the hospital to the face of her terrible ex-boyfriend, who was still listed as her emergency contact. While there were no physical injuries, Bel down a figurative hole of her re-examining her life decisions, primarily the distance she has created with those she was once closest to.
First off, Bel was literally me as a teenager, and I hope after her self-examination and rediscovery, she resembles me as an adult. (Maybe I need to find a beer cellar to fall down just in case I still have some life decisions to re-examine!). I loved every single reference to a 90s TV show or music that I remember fondly from my own youth. Plus, Doc Martens really is the best footwear of choice, for any occasion!
The pacing of this book was really spot on! Not once during any of Bel's existential crises or blunt outbursts did I feel the desire to roll my eyes or slap myself in the face. No moment felt forced, but naturally, as you would expect it to progress.
The ending was perfection, the long awaited moment of clarity for Bel, her letting go of the past and putting her mind forward into what she wanted most from her life, taking one decision at a time based off what she could take control of first.
In Case of Emergency is a heartwarming exploration of family relationships, nurturing friendships, and a splash of romance. But its main focus is on self-love and self-growth that can only become enlightened by walking through the darkness.
First off, Bel was literally me as a teenager, and I hope after her self-examination and rediscovery, she resembles me as an adult. (Maybe I need to find a beer cellar to fall down just in case I still have some life decisions to re-examine!). I loved every single reference to a 90s TV show or music that I remember fondly from my own youth. Plus, Doc Martens really is the best footwear of choice, for any occasion!
The pacing of this book was really spot on! Not once during any of Bel's existential crises or blunt outbursts did I feel the desire to roll my eyes or slap myself in the face. No moment felt forced, but naturally, as you would expect it to progress.
The ending was perfection, the long awaited moment of clarity for Bel, her letting go of the past and putting her mind forward into what she wanted most from her life, taking one decision at a time based off what she could take control of first.
In Case of Emergency is a heartwarming exploration of family relationships, nurturing friendships, and a splash of romance. But its main focus is on self-love and self-growth that can only become enlightened by walking through the darkness.
sharondblk's review
2.0
This book tried to do way too much, and ends up doing none of it particularly well. It is the story of Bell, who is Indian and her self-reflection after she realises she has no-one she is close enough to to put down as an emergency contact. I don't think she really reflects on why this is.
She contacts a child hood friend and they reconnect, but she still feels she is "owed an apology for what happened then". Get over it, you were 16, now you are 38, she doesn't owe you anything. That Bel cannot see that the problem might not be everyone-else and that she is the common denominator makes her whole growth thing feeling so fake.
As well a Bel's relationship with her (nasty, mean and spiky) friends the book tries to tackle racism, internalised self-hatred, sibling issues and toxic workplaces. It's a lot.
And the thing at the end with Karen is so unnecessary, unrealistic and overdramatic.
Mainly I had an issue with the writing. It's actually quite well written, but for every action there is a musing. Its a lot of telling, but very little showing, particularly in relation to her old school friends, who wronged her SO BADLY.
I very nearly DNFd this at 60 percent, but decided I wanted to know what happened.
She contacts a child hood friend and they reconnect, but she still feels she is "owed an apology for what happened then". Get over it, you were 16, now you are 38, she doesn't owe you anything. That Bel cannot see that the problem might not be everyone-else and that she is the common denominator makes her whole growth thing feeling so fake.
As well a Bel's relationship with her (nasty, mean and spiky) friends the book tries to tackle racism, internalised self-hatred, sibling issues and toxic workplaces. It's a lot.
And the thing at the end with Karen
Spoiler
who lies about where she is and then goes out with a friend and kind of gets kidnappedMainly I had an issue with the writing. It's actually quite well written, but for every action there is a musing. Its a lot of telling, but very little showing, particularly in relation to her old school friends, who wronged her SO BADLY.
I very nearly DNFd this at 60 percent, but decided I wanted to know what happened.
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