Scan barcode
shrineofyourlies's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Racism and Self harm
amachonis's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Classism
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
laura_lin's review
tense
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I really like the way this author writes authentic flawed characters. Their internal monologues gave words to feelings I previously couldn’t name or describe. I couldn’t help but reflect on my college experience.
This book ended up being unexpectedly triggering to me which I did not anticipate after the lightness of Such a Fun Age but I am glad to have read it.
This book ended up being unexpectedly triggering to me which I did not anticipate after the lightness of Such a Fun Age but I am glad to have read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Self harm
fionahawkins's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
Liked this much more than I expected to. Very different from Such a fun age. Very slow paced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
katysanderlin's review
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
aliduhan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death
emoshtay's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
any_direction's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Gaslighting
eggplantia5's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I thought this was an enjoyable book that made me somewhat nostalgic for college which I never am.
I thought Millie was a really well thought out character with hopes and flaws and illogical thoughts. I found the plot point where Millie and Agatha start their relationship was a little weird but I appreciate that it was a messy issue that doesn't get 100% resolved. I found everything around Kennedy to be so awful and cringed throughout every one of her chapters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
minimicropup's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
This was so fascinating. Mundane yet intriguing, strange yet familiar. Gotta be in the mood for it though. And have time– if I took long breaks, I would have been so lost coming back. It’s what I’d call a flexible read if you can get invested in the story. Could go with the flow just watching what happens or dissect all the nuanced commentary.
Energy: Desultory. Jaunty. Perceptive.
🐩 Tail Wags
Realistic well-developed characters and dialogue [take character notes, there are many]. Fine-tuned, very detailed character appearances and settings [could feel like too much detail if you aren’t a mind’s eye reader or prefer to customize your imaginings]. The randomness. Just taking it all in and watching things unfold. How the character arcs and plot points start to interconnect. Writing style that is almost jolting at times.
Scene: 🇺🇸 Set in Fayetteville, Arkansas, mostly at the University of Arkansas.
Perspectives (3): A professor with relationship struggles starts a new writing project but gets sidetracked during their research. A residential assistant majoring in Hospitality Management is eager to start their adult life after taking a break to help their mother out. A transfer student is nervous about their new school but hoping to make friends and put their past behind them.
Timeline: 2017 mostly. Takes place over the academic term, so it’s multi-season with summer breaks, autumn chill, and winter festivities.
🔥 Fuel: Character investment. Parallel plots. Evolving relationships between characters. What’s the deal with ____? Almost everyone is a little mysterious in that way getting to know someone can be.
📖 Cred: Hyper realistic with a based-on-a-true-story feel.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Febreze. Candy perfume. Lanyard jingles. Dryer sheets. Wet laundry. Frozen pizza. Music from laptop speakers. Shea cream. Deodorant. Whole Foods. Christmas albums. Dirty dishes.
- Thrown in the story, figure it out as you go
- Slice-of-life University life randomness
- Dorm life, roommate drama and dysfunction, friendship and relationship struggles
- ‘No plot, just vibes’ vibe
- Nothing happens…unless you look closer
- Detailed descriptions and world-building
- Many morally grey and unlikeable characters (ymmv)
- Parallel character studies that gradually overlap
- Exploration and social commentary around race, class, academia, and finances/consumerism
- Questionable journalism, getting the tea
- Psychological mystery/suspense driven by character investment
- You Never Know What Someone Is Going Through complexities
- Fly on the wall, observation driven narratives
Content Heads-Up: Prejudice, bias (ignorance, comments; sexuality, race). Cannabis use (medicinal, recreational). Adderall (recreational). Glaucoma. Relationship breakdown (finances, resentment). Loneliness. Suicidal thoughts. Social anxiety. Dog death (very brief but on page). Sexual content (brief; intoxicated/regretful but coherent, meaningless, consenting, experimenting). Substance abuse (anti-anxiety, recreational). Tietze Syndrome.
Rep: Black, Biracial, Indigenous, and White Americans. Mexican, Irish-Danish, ancestry. Diverse bodies (above avg height, pear shaped, gapped teeth). Lesbian. Questioning. Hetero. Cisgender. Pale pink, rosy brown, tan, and very dark brown skin tones. Crohn’s Disease.
📚 Format: Library Digital
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
😍 Potential Fav of 2024
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Sexual content