Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Exciting Times

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan

49 reviews

aileron'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? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The times, they were not exciting.

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jrow's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

It feels like there is almost nothing going on in the story, but it was funny at times and some parts were cleverly worded.

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kajasversion's review against another edition

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medium-paced

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

4.0

A very interesting character exploration, I really liked the story and the way the characters were written. I am a bit confused about the ending, but I would read it again.

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ariana3's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

1.0

This sucked so bad. I finally got in the groove towards the end, but the whole book was confusing. I didn't understand what I was reading. It's an Irish author, so references, jokes, and just colloquial language was hard for me to understand. And I hated the humor (aka everything about the main character...).

Basically about a girl who hated her life at home (despite what sounds like a loving, caring family) to go teach English in Hong Kong to mix things up. She's miserable because she doesn't let people in, then finds this odd (and maybe autistic?) English banker she starts sleeping with. She ends up being a freeloader and moves into his nice ass apartment, not paying rent. She's tortured by the way he treats her, since they're basically roommates with benefits, but she's unsure if she wants more. She meets this girl, they start fucking and fall in love (turns out the main character might be bisexual or just a lesbian? Unclear), but of course the main character fucks it up because she's too scared to express her feelings and regrets and apologize. The ending is vague and ambiguous on purpose, but it could be that they get back together right as the main character is literally headed to the airport to move to Berlin with her roommate-with-benefits...so freaking stupid and childish

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sestout's review against another edition

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challenging funny reflective medium-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

3.5

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mcrystal1000's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense 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

4.25

This book honestly captivated me pretty well. The way they set the plot line against a backdrop of protests and organizing was really cool.

I still am not quite sure why the main character drove into the police station??? And what was the deal w Jolene at the end.

Rude of the ending to leave me hanging like that tho.

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finn_vibing's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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alisonfaith426's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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ramreadsagain's review against another edition

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funny reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

This was amusing in a dry humour type of way, however the book is not as good as it thinks it is. It's trying to call out racism, privilege, and colonialism, while being full of unchecked stereotyping and an astounding lack of self-awareness.

I enjoyed the writing style itself, as well as Ava as a deeply-flawed, largely unlikeable narrator. But that just wasn't enough to make me care at all about what happens. Overall this lacks substance and achieves nothing.

Also, another reviewer pointed out that there is no reason for this book to take place in Hong Kong and I agree.

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adelal's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

This book was definitely not what I expected. While I normally love books with no plot about lost pretentious 20-somethings, this book failed to make me feel connected to the characters. Towards the end, Ava was so annoying I wondered how everyone even put up with her. Still, I enjoyed the writing and the thoughts on language, race and sexuality, and also Edith and Miles.

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