emilo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
Moderate: Murder and Blood
Minor: Racism and Sexism
sidekicksam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.5
Yep, Candice Carty-Williams definitely is an auto-buy author for me. I adored Queenie and I loved People Person too.
Cyril Pennington has 5 children with 4 different women, and one day he decides to have them all meet, because if you don't know you're related, you might end up shagging. While they don't stay in touch, Dimple decides to call her big sister for help when she's hit a snag. But it's not the reunion the rest had expected.
I loved getting to know all five Pennington-children and the exploration of family-ties; absent parents, mothers fulfilling the role of both parents, but also the sibling-bond. Despite a lot happening plot-wise, it really is a character-driven book. If you'd ask me why I loved it, it's because I loved Lizzie (yeah idk why either), Carty-Williams' funny and engaging writing, the themes explored and how it made me feel while reading it. I was invested.
Definitely pick this up if you enjoyed the stories/vibes of I'm Sorry You Feel That Way or Anansi Boys.
Cyril Pennington has 5 children with 4 different women, and one day he decides to have them all meet, because if you don't know you're related, you might end up shagging. While they don't stay in touch, Dimple decides to call her big sister for help when she's hit a snag. But it's not the reunion the rest had expected.
I loved getting to know all five Pennington-children and the exploration of family-ties; absent parents, mothers fulfilling the role of both parents, but also the sibling-bond. Despite a lot happening plot-wise, it really is a character-driven book. If you'd ask me why I loved it, it's because I loved Lizzie (yeah idk why either), Carty-Williams' funny and engaging writing, the themes explored and how it made me feel while reading it. I was invested.
Definitely pick this up if you enjoyed the stories/vibes of I'm Sorry You Feel That Way or Anansi Boys.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Blood
_jchinasa's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Alcoholism
planetsaturns's review against another edition
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Fatphobia, Alcoholism, and Body shaming
znvisser's review against another edition
reflective
medium-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
2.75
Really mixed feelings about this one… I did mostly love the writing and the sibling dynamics, so those made this read enjoyable. However, I had two bigger problems with it as well: first was the plot, which was really weirdly paced and yet somehow (or actually because of it) quite predictable. Adding the nine night to get the mothers together was not really necessary, it just confused me as to how thirty years later these women still get so emotional over a man who seemed to have not much more going for him than a bit of charm that fizzled out long ago. Second is the perspective: out of the five siblings, the main character was by far the least interesting one and she really got on my nerves after a while. The bad decisions, naïveté and her oversensitivity were so excessive they made me wish I was getting to know this family through ANY other character (it was overdone too, I mean she was already like this as a baby?? Come ON)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Grief
michaelion's review
emotional
funny
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
3.75
TW // British
Very funny. As an only child who grew up with a somewhat absent father, and knowing the secondhand experience my friends had of being one of many children, this hit home. The book is very real in many ways. There's something about it I can't explain that I really connected to. Overall, though, the message about family hit my soft spot.
Very funny. As an only child who grew up with a somewhat absent father, and knowing the secondhand experience my friends had of being one of many children, this hit home. The book is very real in many ways.
Spoiler
Dimple going off on Lizzie, then the next day everyone continuing on like nothing had happened. I imagine that's what it was like after I'd left my friend's houses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Blood, Violence, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Body shaming
Minor: Racism, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
madelinedalton's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
Another absolute banger from Candice Carty-Williams!!! I loved Queenie and was super excited to read her next novel, and it did not disappoint. Carty-Williams is a master at creating distinctive, funny, larger-than-life characters and her narrative voice sparkles with personality. I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5 because sometimes I was confused by Lizzie's motivations/character arc, and the conclusion to the Kyron plot line was not as satisfying as I wanted it to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Fatphobia
Minor: Alcoholism
kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Fatphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Racism
caseythereader's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
4.25
Thanks to Gallery Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- PEOPLE PERSON is one of those rare books that manages to explore some heavy and dark topics while being hilarious the entire way through.
- I'll not discuss the plot too much, as the bulk of the book centers around something not given away in the book summary - you just gotta read it to see!
- I adored the Pennington siblings, and being there with them while they tried to figure out how to be there for each other when they had grown up so differently (and yet so similarly, at the same time).
- Carty-Williams is just so great and giving her characters voices and lives that feel completely real. I'm a fan for life.
- PEOPLE PERSON is one of those rare books that manages to explore some heavy and dark topics while being hilarious the entire way through.
- I'll not discuss the plot too much, as the bulk of the book centers around something not given away in the book summary - you just gotta read it to see!
- I adored the Pennington siblings, and being there with them while they tried to figure out how to be there for each other when they had grown up so differently (and yet so similarly, at the same time).
- Carty-Williams is just so great and giving her characters voices and lives that feel completely real. I'm a fan for life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Fatphobia, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, Cursing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
I read and loved Queenie but for some reason when I read the blurb of People Person I wasn't overly pushed to go and read it, then I saw @5inead enjoying it on her story so of course FOMO kicked in and I had to request it. I'm really glad I gave in to the self-inflicted peer pressure as it was a really enjoyable read and listen.
First thing I'm going to mention is that the story is a little bit unrealistic, so cast that aside at the start of the book and then sit in for some fantastic characters, cringe worthy family moments and some great sibling bonding.
The book centers around Cyril Pennington and the five children (that he admits to having) by four different mothers. The children all live seemingly unconnected lives not knowing each other until one day Cyril decides they all should meet so that they don't end up accidentally @coupling' up. Fast forward 10 years later to when out of the blue Dimple calls on the eldest sister Nikisha to help her get out of a rather prickly situation she has herself landed in. The troops rally around Dimple and what unfolds is an entertaining exploration of their characters and previously unknown strength as a family unit.
Carty-Williams has written a host of brilliantly fleshed out, honest and quite likable characters which are so engaging and authentic that it's easy to get caught up and carried away with the story line. She highlights the beauty of family coming together in a time of need and protecting each other at all costs, even against those who should have been protecting them.
I switched between ebook and audio and while both were great I have to save the audio was fantastic, Cyril's character especially came to life far more vibrantly through the audio.
Is this book a bit flawed with some run away flighty moments that have you thinking 'Really?' Yes, but in saying that I laughed so much through out, while also having a few near tear moments. I enjoyed every minute of it and would love to see any or all of the characters followed up on in their own book.
First thing I'm going to mention is that the story is a little bit unrealistic, so cast that aside at the start of the book and then sit in for some fantastic characters, cringe worthy family moments and some great sibling bonding.
The book centers around Cyril Pennington and the five children (that he admits to having) by four different mothers. The children all live seemingly unconnected lives not knowing each other until one day Cyril decides they all should meet so that they don't end up accidentally @coupling' up. Fast forward 10 years later to when out of the blue Dimple calls on the eldest sister Nikisha to help her get out of a rather prickly situation she has herself landed in. The troops rally around Dimple and what unfolds is an entertaining exploration of their characters and previously unknown strength as a family unit.
Carty-Williams has written a host of brilliantly fleshed out, honest and quite likable characters which are so engaging and authentic that it's easy to get caught up and carried away with the story line. She highlights the beauty of family coming together in a time of need and protecting each other at all costs, even against those who should have been protecting them.
I switched between ebook and audio and while both were great I have to save the audio was fantastic, Cyril's character especially came to life far more vibrantly through the audio.
Is this book a bit flawed with some run away flighty moments that have you thinking 'Really?' Yes, but in saying that I laughed so much through out, while also having a few near tear moments. I enjoyed every minute of it and would love to see any or all of the characters followed up on in their own book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Infidelity