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rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
2.25
I picked up Green Dot thanks to Gillian Anderson’s recommendation (and let’s be real, I’ll read just about anything she suggests). Anderson described it as “laugh-out-loud funny and achingly sad,” a somewhat apr description that could apply to the bisexual chaos of Hera, the 24-year-old protagonist who finds herself entangled with Arthur, a married man and her boss. As someone who had just finished The Z Word, I was in the mood for another story featuring a complex bisexual character—especially during Bisexual Visibility Day. So, with Green Dot available at the library, I dove in.
Hera is a hot mess who falls deeply into an all-consuming obsession with Arthur, who strings her along with promises of a future together while remaining firmly married. Watching her alienate her friends and family just to be on call for him 24/7 was frustrating and, honestly, sad. There’s a moment when Hera chooses to seek comfort in Arthur instead of going to her father, who genuinely needs her, and it’s heartbreak on top of heartbreak.
I didn’t quite get the “laugh-out-loud” moments Anderson mentioned—Green Dot felt more like watching someone make one bad decision after another, but I did find myself caring about Hera. Her mental health and well-being kept me invested even when the story became predictable. The ending? You can see it coming, but there’s something about the final image that sticks with you. It leaves you thinking long after you close the book.
Overall, I’m torn between two and three stars. While I didn’t love Green Dot, it has a way of lingering with you—and maybe that’s the point.
Hera is a hot mess who falls deeply into an all-consuming obsession with Arthur, who strings her along with promises of a future together while remaining firmly married. Watching her alienate her friends and family just to be on call for him 24/7 was frustrating and, honestly, sad. There’s a moment when Hera chooses to seek comfort in Arthur instead of going to her father, who genuinely needs her, and it’s heartbreak on top of heartbreak.
I didn’t quite get the “laugh-out-loud” moments Anderson mentioned—Green Dot felt more like watching someone make one bad decision after another, but I did find myself caring about Hera. Her mental health and well-being kept me invested even when the story became predictable. The ending? You can see it coming, but there’s something about the final image that sticks with you. It leaves you thinking long after you close the book.
Overall, I’m torn between two and three stars. While I didn’t love Green Dot, it has a way of lingering with you—and maybe that’s the point.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
ashlesschaps7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal death, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
annaavian's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A predictable affair with a predictable ending.
I don't have a problem with morally grey or flat out unlikable characters and their shitty behaviors as long as there is at least some meaningful point at the end. I failed to find one here.
What sounded like an intriguing narrative quickly revealed itself to be quite frustrating, centered around an unlikable protagonist whose actions lack purpose and depth. The novel begins with promising prose, infused with snarky slang and hot-headed attitude. However, this charm wears thin as the narrative progresses, becoming tiresome rather than engaging. Time passes ambiguously, emotions develop without explanation or depth, and the plot just stumbles along without clear direction.
What starts as a potentially compelling exploration of complex relationships descends into a hollow depiction of selfishness and indifference. The absence of any interior life or introspection from the protagonist results in a sense of detachment and I was soon questioning the purpose of the story as a whole. In the end "Green Dot" failed to deliver a meaningful point behind its characters' actions for me, leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential.
I don't have a problem with morally grey or flat out unlikable characters and their shitty behaviors as long as there is at least some meaningful point at the end. I failed to find one here.
What sounded like an intriguing narrative quickly revealed itself to be quite frustrating, centered around an unlikable protagonist whose actions lack purpose and depth. The novel begins with promising prose, infused with snarky slang and hot-headed attitude. However, this charm wears thin as the narrative progresses, becoming tiresome rather than engaging. Time passes ambiguously, emotions develop without explanation or depth, and the plot just stumbles along without clear direction.
What starts as a potentially compelling exploration of complex relationships descends into a hollow depiction of selfishness and indifference. The absence of any interior life or introspection from the protagonist results in a sense of detachment and I was soon questioning the purpose of the story as a whole. In the end "Green Dot" failed to deliver a meaningful point behind its characters' actions for me, leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
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