melissa_b_67's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Violence, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
quillcg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Spoiler
For example, I really liked the idea that Daisy used her affair with Gatsby to get back at Tom rather than out of any lingering affection for Gatsby. I also liked the book's initial depiction of Gatsby as an obsessive man who carelessly wields his power to get what he wants: a "nice guy" whose exuberant, slightly threatening charming intensity bends people to his will. However, as the book went on, Gatsby became more of a caricature of your everyday "powerful male villain," which I felt flattened his character considerably.Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Infidelity, Stalking, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Minor: War, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
ladyzbyrd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love the history the author had about the The Great Gatsby and the timing of it all between two pandemics, almost 100 years apart.
Will we see another retelling in another hundred years? It’s certainly inspiring in a way to dream of the future.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Murder
lbutcher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Violence
paulineerika's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite live up to the premise. There was a lot of time spent laying the foundation for the women, but then it all seemed to go nowhere. The women, especially Daisy, ended up falling a little flat, character-wise, for me. In trying to make them more sympathetic, it felt like Cantor ended up making them less interesting. As the book went on, it also felt like there were too many stories to tell and so the stories themselves ended up not as tight as they should have been.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia
tatted_librarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident and Stalking
maria1085's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fans of The Great Gatsby will love this story told from the perspective of three women. We read this for book club and we all really loved the writing, and the women’s individual stories. We felt that it stayed true to the original Great Gatsby. I really liked the strong female characters and friendships between them. I loved the time period of the early 1920s in this book. Now I need to go back and reread The Great Gatsby. This book reminded me how much I liked that original story. Beautiful Little Fools gives a voice to the women in Gatsby’s life and moved seamlessly through each POV. If you want a spin on a classic story then this book won’t disappoint!
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Murder
delvie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The voice actresses did a phenomenal job, but it felt like they were telling me they were characters from the 1920's (by referencing legislation and necessary historic cornerstones) instead of showing me (via vernacular, relevant furniture, architecture, etc.).
As a Gatsby fan, I don't feel better for having read this book. It felt like a weird satire of "let's tell HERstory instead of HIStory," and it didn't do it for me. I'll just watch the movie instead next time.
Graphic: Murder, Death, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia
kprouse13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
Moderate: Vomit
machenn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, Murder, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Alcohol