Reviews with content warning for Racism - Everything's Fine

Der Schreibstil ist flüssig, weshalb ich das Buch auch innerhalb von zwei Tagen durchgelesen hab. Aber: insgesamt bin ich trotzdem enttäuscht. Die zwei Hauptcharaktere hätten großes Potential für eine Entwicklung gehabt... das ist leider nicht passiert. Während Josh durch seine politischen Ansichten (mir zumindest) extrem unsympathisch ist, ist dies zwar bei Jess nicht der Fall aber sie ist dafür sehr unreflektiert,

was sich auch im Laufe der Geschichte nicht ändern.

Dadurch ist sie oft "nervig".

Der Konflikt wird am Ende nicht gelöst und es geht einfach so weiter wie zuvor.

Ein "Plädoyer für Toleranz, Neugierde und dafür, miteinander im Gespräch zu bleiben" ist dieses Buch für mich daher nicht.

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leoni_plu's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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fkshg8465's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted sad 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

Parts of the book were hard to read, Josh’s point of view on a lot things, in particular, though I still believe that in the end, everything wasn’t fine given the state of the country today. But I loved his character for being the kind of person who was brave enough to stand up for what he believes, loving enough to keep trying, and confident enough to be challenged. He also reminds us of the importance of discourse and forgiveness. I feel like he was the real hero of the book, and I don’t say that lightly, given Jess was the protagonist and the BIPoC with the trauma to overcome. Still, I loved how much she grew throughout the book and trust she will continue to grow. I’m rooting for these two!

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lindsayhotrod's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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alysereadsbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book was a hot mess. I wanted to like it so much, but felt the characters were very unlikeable and I don't understand how you could stay in a relationship with someone with such fundamentally different values. I HATED the ending.

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pamnc's review against another edition

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tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

4.25

24 hours after initial review, I think it’s maybe a 3.5. Will leave as 4.25 as it was initial take

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marissas_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This book took a while to grab me, but once it did, I was IN! I honestly didn’t like Jess much at first and was stressed over some of her choices (ok this continues throughout the book 😅) but I loved seeing her grow over the course of the novel, and am feeling like she just might turn out alright!

The book is bookended by the election of Obama and Trump’s inauguration. While the book isn’t political per se, these events impact Jess’s life and worldview in similar ways it effected all of us. It also makes up the bulk of her young adulthood (as it did mine, I was the same age as her in the book), and it’s really something to watch someone grow and handle these two very different events.

This book is a bit of an emotional roller coaster and will give you a LOT of feelings. Be ready to rage against patriarchy, corporate bullshit, and white privilege. Also he ready to swoon over a love story, cry over family struggles, and side eye behaviors of a 23 year old.

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woodsbookclub's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This isn’t a romantic story, and people who think that was the author’s aim haven’t understood anything they’ve read. There is clearly a social critique of people in positions of privilege who, because they are not affected by the system (i.e. the systemic patriarchal, sexist and racist system), think that others are irrational and hysterical and are just exaggerating and victimising themselves. Josh may not be obviously cruel, but he’s part of the problem, a walking red flag. And I think the ending, although somewhat open, is ominous. Jess, run.

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