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readingwithrae's review against another edition
1.0
1.5 stars.
...what on earth is going on in the house of commons
i legit have no clue how to rate this book. was it possibly one of the worst books i've ever read? perhaps. and yet, could i look away? no, i could not. like a bad trainwreck this book was, for the most part, horrible. the writing style wasn't for me, the characters were all unlikeable (besides dustin, murf, and maybe kimmie at the end).
AND YET, i did not dnf this like i wanted to a thousand times, because i simply could not look away. like it or not, even though these characters were all horrible people, and they couldn't go two steps without being high or drunk, it reminded me just enough of early 2000s trash tv that i was endlessly entertained. gossip girl, one tree hill, jersey shore, these were the shows i was raised on as a teen, and it brought back enough of that nostalgia factor for me to keep reading, even though i really, really knew i should put it down and pick up something i'd actually like.
final verdict? yes, this is trash. it's not good. i can't in good conscience recommend this to someone. but if you're looking for something that will keep you flipping pages until the end? well, perhaps you need a little bit of anna k. in your life.
...what on earth is going on in the house of commons
i legit have no clue how to rate this book. was it possibly one of the worst books i've ever read? perhaps. and yet, could i look away? no, i could not. like a bad trainwreck
Spoiler
sorry vronskyAND YET, i did not dnf this like i wanted to a thousand times, because i simply could not look away. like it or not, even though these characters were all horrible people, and they couldn't go two steps without being high or drunk, it reminded me just enough of early 2000s trash tv that i was endlessly entertained. gossip girl, one tree hill, jersey shore, these were the shows i was raised on as a teen, and it brought back enough of that nostalgia factor for me to keep reading, even though i really, really knew i should put it down and pick up something i'd actually like.
final verdict? yes, this is trash. it's not good. i can't in good conscience recommend this to someone. but if you're looking for something that will keep you flipping pages until the end? well, perhaps you need a little bit of anna k. in your life.
elizabethfisher1's review against another edition
4.0
If this weren't an Anna Karenina retelling, I would not have picked it up. Rich teens behaving badly is not really my preferred trope but it works remarkably well for this retelling. I found this story engrossing and fun, though the dialogue is a bit cringe--classic adult tries to sound like a teenager. I went back and forth about how I felt about already knowing the story of Anna Karenina--I loved the author's clever nods to the original story but it was also a bit of a spoiler. Overall this was an enjoyable read.
lambchops814's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I adored this modern retelling of Anna Karenina. It had so many nods to the classic story with a gossip girl, rich teens in NYC vibe. Excellent light read.
akahawkeye's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is Anna Karenina but in the modern day and in NYC and also everyone is a rich teenager and also the Kareninas are half-Korean. Very abridged but a good retelling of the basic points of the story. Biggest grievance: teenagers don’t talk like this! I don’t know a teenager in the 2020s who calls their partner their “gf” or “bf”. Feels like that Steve Buscemi meme: “Hello, fellow youths!”
I’d also say it’s strange dialogue, almost like it was written by two different people. Weird mix of too much slang and incredibly proper speech. LOTS of drug use, sex, and self-sabotage.
I’d also say it’s strange dialogue, almost like it was written by two different people. Weird mix of too much slang and incredibly proper speech. LOTS of drug use, sex, and self-sabotage.
aallyoop_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Drama, drama, drama! As is mentioned in a lot of reviews, this is a Gossip Girl-esque novel in the sense that it depicts filthy rich high schoolers from NYC. It was a fun read with some heavy topics (drug use, overdose, revenge porn, death, infidelity, racism, and more) and a lot of teenage drama. I was hooked from the beginning, and even though parts of it were over the top, I enjoyed the ride.
other_worlds_than_these's review against another edition
5.0
I found this such a beautiful story about love and loss. I’m not familiar with the original story of Anna Karinna but I found this to stand perfectly on its own. Even though the cast of characters are insanely privileged, they go through so much that is relatable and realistic. I loved how mental health was discussed in this. I loved all the characters and they all grow in their own ways, for the better. I loved the seriousness along side the fun crazy parts! Highly recommend!!
chlooee's review against another edition
5.0
what a riveting book. imagine gossip girl but with higher stakes, alongside excellent writing, unique characters and unpredictable moments. i enjoyed this novel immensely.
nhi_nguyen's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5
I couldn't get into the story that great. I never found myself wanting to go back and visit the story. I did love the three love stories prevalent in the book. Though, Anna and Vronsky's relationship wasn't my favorite. Anna does have a boyfriend and their affair wasn't something fun to read about. The ending was really, really tragic. The book does make me want to read Anna Karenina, though.
I couldn't get into the story that great. I never found myself wanting to go back and visit the story. I did love the three love stories prevalent in the book. Though, Anna and Vronsky's relationship wasn't my favorite. Anna does have a boyfriend and their affair wasn't something fun to read about. The ending was really, really tragic. The book does make me want to read Anna Karenina, though.
chrissireads's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shayleeandersonn's review against another edition
3.0
had i known going into this that it was an anna karenina retelling, i'd have saved myself a lot of mental strain! cuz while i was reading it, i thought "what the f*ck is going on!"
and when i finished it, i thought "what the f*ck just happened!"
and then when i looked up the source material, i thought "ahh, it's because it's russian."
and when i finished it, i thought "what the f*ck just happened!"
and then when i looked up the source material, i thought "ahh, it's because it's russian."