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clare_dv's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Grief
Minor: Death
m_liz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death and Grief
laurataylor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, and Miscarriage
sevensableyes's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
sad
fast-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
Seriously loveable cast, great pacing, albiet predictable ending. This story makes me want to pick up swimming again :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death and Grief
heyitsashleigh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
g_books2022's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Miscarriage
nannaolsen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death and Infertility
hollygon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
writtenontheflyleaves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Lido by Libby Page 🏊♀️
🌟🌟🌟
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🩱 The plot: Kate is a graduate journalist for the Brixton Chronicle who is struggling with loneliness and panic attacks. Rosemary is a recently-widowed octogenarian who swims at Brockwell Lido every other day, and has done since it opened in 1937. When the lido is threatened with closure, the two women come together to save it - and, ultimately, each other.
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I thought this book was fine. It’s light and easy to read, with short chapters and a wholesome message about community. I haven’t had the best mental health week ever, so the gentleness of this novel was soothing.
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However, The Lido’s optimism ultimately slid into naivety for me. I read this just after finishing The Book of Echoes by Rosanna Amaka, and was struck by the contrast in complexity of the descriptions of Brixton, and particularly the issue of gentrification. The book had a very Kumbaya vision of protest, and was pretty uncritical of the forces at work in the situation - ⚠️ spoiler alert ⚠️ the lido isn’t saved by the community winning a small victory against austerity and capitalism, but by an eleventh-hour investment from another big company. Call me cynical but this narrowed the scope of the happy ending for me!
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In the end, though the book was written with clear affection for Brixton, it seemed to lack the deep understanding that Amaka’s book had, as Amaka I believe is a lifelong resident whereas Page lived there as a student. This meant that even though I loved Rosemary as a character, she felt slightly unrealised to me - I would LOVE to know the inner thoughts of a woman who’s lived in Brixton for nearly 90 years, but I just don’t think this delivered!
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💦 Read it if you want a wholesome read and if themes of outdoor swimming, battling loneliness, and intergenerational friendships appeal to you.
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🚫 Avoid it if you’re on the cynical side or want stories about community action to lean into more radical ideas. Also if you don’t want to read narratives that include fatphobia or body insecurity, or grieving for a partner. To be specific about the fatphobia, it struck me on page 10 but is mostly absent for the rest of the book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
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