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kennie's review against another edition
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Alcohol
decklededgess's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trigger warnings: sexual content (characters are under 18), drug and alcohol abuse, addiction, overdosing, rehabilitation, depression, suicide ideation, suicide attempt, self harm mention, vehicle accident, death by train, animal harm/death, emotionally abusive parents, infidelity, sexual harassment and cyber bullying, vomit, fatphobia, racism, classism, slut shaming, emotional incest
Idk who or what have me the idea but this book is not sapphic? There is one sapphic character who is like basically background. No wlw here in the main cast.
Other than that disappointment this book was phenomenal. A very xoxo Gossip Girl touch to Anna Karenina which seems apt from what I know about the original text.
The wealth disparity and lack of relatability of thee wealthy ass kids made the trauma a but more distant so I could read the book without internalising too much.
It’s beautifully written and I loved the chaos that third person omniscient pov provided to the narrative.
Excited for the next one!
Idk who or what have me the idea but this book is not sapphic? There is one sapphic character who is like basically background. No wlw here in the main cast.
Other than that disappointment this book was phenomenal. A very xoxo Gossip Girl touch to Anna Karenina which seems apt from what I know about the original text.
The wealth disparity and lack of relatability of thee wealthy ass kids made the trauma a but more distant so I could read the book without internalising too much.
It’s beautifully written and I loved the chaos that third person omniscient pov provided to the narrative.
Excited for the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion
crystalmethany's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction and Animal death
Minor: Mental illness and Medical content
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, and Alcohol
Moderate: Racism and Blood
hannahb1533's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Listened to the audio book because Jenna Ushkowitz narrated (and you did great doing so girl!)
Overall this story was... a struggle for me.
Had I been reading a physical copy and not listening to it, I may have DNF'd it. And not because Jenny Lee's writing style is bad or because she isn't a compelling story teller, because she is. No, my real struggle was trying to sympathize with rich, spoiled high schoolers.
This book got 3 stars instead of 2 from me because of Lee's ability to tell a story along with Jenna's narrations. I only liked maybe one character really (Dustin. Kimmie also had some redeeming qualities) which isn't surprising since that one character was the only one not rolling in their parents money and living a life of privilege's so may of us will never know.
The story works as a retelling of Anna Karenina, it does what it is supposed to do to be that. This is like if Anna Karenina and Gossip Girl had a baby. But I had to constantly remind myself that these were high schoolers. Between the sex (this book has more graphic detail than anything else I have read that is considered YA), the casual drug use with no repercussions (in most cases), the cheating, and the overarching feeling that high school love is the end-all-be-all I found myself unable to relate on so many levels.
The characters are built well though, you understand all of their individual personalities and what makes them tic, which is hard with so many characters in one story. And the pacing of the book does keep you on your toes about what may happen next. Lee is clearly a very skilled writer. But for me I just can't score it higher because I just cannot get over the overflowing privilege's. Even though I know that is the point at time I was so frustrated listening to these characters and their lives.
Should I give the sequel a try? Will it solve some of the problems I had (can Steven please be forced to come to terms with his drug use?)? Or will I just get frustrated all over again?
Overall this story was... a struggle for me.
Had I been reading a physical copy and not listening to it, I may have DNF'd it. And not because Jenny Lee's writing style is bad or because she isn't a compelling story teller, because she is. No, my real struggle was trying to sympathize with rich, spoiled high schoolers.
This book got 3 stars instead of 2 from me because of Lee's ability to tell a story along with Jenna's narrations. I only liked maybe one character really (Dustin. Kimmie also had some redeeming qualities) which isn't surprising since that one character was the only one not rolling in their parents money and living a life of privilege's so may of us will never know.
The story works as a retelling of Anna Karenina, it does what it is supposed to do to be that. This is like if Anna Karenina and Gossip Girl had a baby. But I had to constantly remind myself that these were high schoolers. Between the sex (this book has more graphic detail than anything else I have read that is considered YA), the casual drug use with no repercussions (in most cases), the cheating, and the overarching feeling that high school love is the end-all-be-all I found myself unable to relate on so many levels.
The characters are built well though, you understand all of their individual personalities and what makes them tic, which is hard with so many characters in one story. And the pacing of the book does keep you on your toes about what may happen next. Lee is clearly a very skilled writer. But for me I just can't score it higher because I just cannot get over the overflowing privilege's. Even though I know that is the point at time I was so frustrated listening to these characters and their lives.
Should I give the sequel a try? Will it solve some of the problems I had (can Steven please be forced to come to terms with his drug use?)? Or will I just get frustrated all over again?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
taylor_maxine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Alcohol
gabbygarcia's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Fun audiobook! Though I don't think I would have enjoyed it so much if I hadn't listened to it...
Jenna Ushkowitz is perfect.
Jenna Ushkowitz is perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Racism, Sexism, and Death of parent
caidyn's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
On a reread, I liked it better, but still would rather read the classic. Diversity is great, but everything felt so superficial.
Thanks to Edelweiss, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
CW: sex shaming, drug use, alcohol use, cheating, adultery, revenge porn, death, and sex on the page
Man. I thought this book would be a silly, frivolous read to take my mind away from things, but it just fell flat for me. It's a poor retelling. Honestly, I'd say just pick up the actual book to read it because this didn't hit home for me.
This book is about Gen Z. The kids who are teenagers now and have only known technology. Even better, these are rich Gen Z kids who have the whole world at the touch of their fingertips, both digitally and literally thanks to money.
While Anna Karenina was a glimpse into Russia before the fall of the monarchy and the class differences in pre-revolution Russia, this was just a bunch of teens doing drugs, having sex, and doing rich people things. It's not a bad book. The writing is good. The characters are usually interesting. But the story just felt like a poor man's version of the original.
It also didn't help that it felt like it was written by someone outside the generation. I could tell that Lee was on the outside looking in, so it felt like a parody at times. I loved the diversity in this, but, overall, I was so done by the time the story ended.
Thanks to Edelweiss, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
CW: sex shaming, drug use, alcohol use, cheating, adultery, revenge porn, death, and sex on the page
Man. I thought this book would be a silly, frivolous read to take my mind away from things, but it just fell flat for me. It's a poor retelling. Honestly, I'd say just pick up the actual book to read it because this didn't hit home for me.
This book is about Gen Z. The kids who are teenagers now and have only known technology. Even better, these are rich Gen Z kids who have the whole world at the touch of their fingertips, both digitally and literally thanks to money.
While Anna Karenina was a glimpse into Russia before the fall of the monarchy and the class differences in pre-revolution Russia, this was just a bunch of teens doing drugs, having sex, and doing rich people things. It's not a bad book. The writing is good. The characters are usually interesting. But the story just felt like a poor man's version of the original.
It also didn't help that it felt like it was written by someone outside the generation. I could tell that Lee was on the outside looking in, so it felt like a parody at times. I loved the diversity in this, but, overall, I was so done by the time the story ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use