artthief's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
em1liaflores's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mfiamoncini7's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This is well written but the storyline isn’t anything “new” per se.
leeena's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
ljpapp's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very creative, beautifully written novel about the character's parallel lives following a loss at the olympics as a teenager.
val_halla's review against another edition
3.0
The concept of presenting several alternate realities of a woman's life, based on the choices she makes early on, is interesting. Still, I was relatively unimpressed by Anshaw's writing. The first section had some really good imagery, but beyond that it seemed a little trite. And I didn't appreciate the insinuation that sexual orientation is essentially a choice.
claire__fm's review against another edition
4.0
A little artless and disjointed at times, but I really liked Jesse, and a lot of the writing was great. The triptych of Jesse’s various lives felt a little choose-your-own-adventure-y, and yet its obsession with the unlived life worked. Would recommend to washed-up athletes and nostalgics. (Also lol at someone else’s review: “You don’t have to be gay to enjoy this book!”)
lullabies's review
2.0
the ableists/racists remarks weren't really necessary and the book being from the 90s isn't an excuse. other than that, the writing was quite enchanting and the stories told were interesting enough, but i wish they were a little more developed.
umbrella's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
clem's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
CW for some anti-autistic language used to describe a minor character + a few incidences of a racial slur for “Inuit”