lusanmanso's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Mental illness, Infidelity, Drug use, Chronic illness, Suicide attempt, and Alcoholism
zoroco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Animal death and Chronic illness
Minor: Transphobia
beriboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Self harm, Chronic illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Cursing, Animal death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Mental illness
minimicropup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Main POVs: 👌
-a 24 year old recent fine art graduate who presents as carefree, confident, and adventurous but is harbouring a deep sense of shame, depressive disorders, and unhealthy ego. They blame everyone and everything for their struggles. We get to see them slowly evolve and where it comes from in their past
-a 44 year old functional alcoholic and advertising entrepreneur who is successful and perhaps a “charming” drunk but painfully immature and people-pleasing in a shallow way. We also see them evolve and where this tendency comes from
-a witty, intuitive, cynical 37 year old television/film writer recently forced out of their job and now living with their elderly wise-cracking parent
Show’n’tell: ❤️
So much show! Though half the time you aren’t quite sure what you’re being shown, it adds to the story. Like bringing a neon crayon set in an unlabelled package, revealing them individually, then passing them around the class.
Reading Journey: 👌
People-watching on the NY subway from early morning ‘til late night. There will be moments of boredom, confusion, cringing, heartwarmth (?), and laughter.
Great match if you like:
-literary fiction with character-driven narratives that are infuriating, hilarious, and inspiring
-believable outcomes (follows MCs over a two-year period)
-character studies involving addiction, mental illness, and childhood trauma
-NYC party vibes with consequences included
-a sprinkling of randomness
-wrong time and place romance
Vibes: 😅🥺🥴
Format: Library E-book via Libby
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Abandonment, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Chronic illness
Minor: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
Addiction includes alcoholism (and recovery), food addiction (and recovery), relationship addiction/codependent friendships, meth, and heroinSpoiler
fatal overdoseSpoiler
involving a pet marsupial that drowns and was left to roam free in unsafe surroundingsimalittlechili's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Self harm, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, and Transphobia
redflyingbook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
the prose is stunning and also so witty , i genuinely loved the sense of humor which is quite rare for me to truly come across.
what fascinated me the most though: the author genuinely has a GIFT for writing characters, each and every single one of them was incredibly nuanced, unique and so very *human*. you feel like you have or could have maybe met them along your own way navigating your 20s, they are all in super different stages and living situations, so it is a very diverse set of people too, although without having this feeling forced or unnatural in any way !
the only thing to criticize to me is what unfortunately also stems from having quite the large set of wonderful & loveable characters, is that i felt i saw too little of some of them, i get that the focus was on frank & cleo but i easily could've read on about all of them haha. also
Spoiler
quentin's and anders's ending did not feel full or satisfying at all ...still, the book is probably a new favorite now!
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
coffeekitaab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Self harm, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Drug use, Transphobia, and Drug abuse
ninaszewczyk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Addiction
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Terminal illness
Minor: Chronic illness and Toxic friendship
lowlyworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Animal death, Self harm, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Drug use, Addiction, and Suicide attempt
studydniowka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death of parent, Chronic illness, Grief, and Misogyny