jackiesreadingjourney's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first book I have ever read by Jennifer Weiner and it started off well. I can relate to body image issues (as most women if not all certainly can) and the struggles the main character Daphne had with dating and friendships. I was looking for a light hearted summer book with a little bit of romance and life lessons thrown in for perspective.
What I got was this weird murder mystery lifetime movie. I’ve been trying to decide for a few days now whether I liked this book or not. It was so messy and the way Daphne discovered who the true killer’s identity was just didn’t make any sense. I’ll read another Jennifer Weiner book because she definitely lured me in at the beginning. I just wish that spark didn’t explode into some nonsense story. It just felt...rushed. I’m disappointed but I still enjoyed it for what it’s worth.
What I got was this weird murder mystery lifetime movie. I’ve been trying to decide for a few days now whether I liked this book or not. It was so messy and the way Daphne discovered who the true killer’s identity was just didn’t make any sense. I’ll read another Jennifer Weiner book because she definitely lured me in at the beginning. I just wish that spark didn’t explode into some nonsense story. It just felt...rushed. I’m disappointed but I still enjoyed it for what it’s worth.
steelcitygator's review against another edition
2.0
Pandering and unimaginative, it tries to take on ideas that are just bad. There aren't really any good ideas here. Every twist was neither shocking nor particularly interesting. It's more "I guess I didn't see that happening and I am still unsure why it did." Outside of that, it's almost a book that doesn't know what it wants to be, one not comfortable in any one skin in a very negative way. Is it a murder/mystery book? a commentary on modern society? a feel good story? a romance? It feels like it's trying to be all of them and none at all and the ideas and plot points aren't interwoven with sufficient skill to keep it from feeling like a disjointed and stilted work.
Really the only reason I bumped it too 2* (one of my closest 1/2* cutoffs) is I do believe Weiner is a good writer of prose and character. It's not ground breaking but it's good in a way where it's easy to read and engaging wordplay and she can describe characters, places, events in an intriguing way. almost like a worn coat, comfortable but never flamboyant or intriguing. The characters feel fleshed out even if the positions they're put in is often head scratching. A weird mix of mostly bad and some eyebrow cocking decent, I'd like to think it's not Weiner's best work and there's a good book by her hand out there but the gulf from the disjointed framework to a full building feels like to far a gulf and I can't imagine myself giving her work another try anytime soon.
Really the only reason I bumped it too 2* (one of my closest 1/2* cutoffs) is I do believe Weiner is a good writer of prose and character. It's not ground breaking but it's good in a way where it's easy to read and engaging wordplay and she can describe characters, places, events in an intriguing way. almost like a worn coat, comfortable but never flamboyant or intriguing. The characters feel fleshed out even if the positions they're put in is often head scratching. A weird mix of mostly bad and some eyebrow cocking decent, I'd like to think it's not Weiner's best work and there's a good book by her hand out there but the gulf from the disjointed framework to a full building feels like to far a gulf and I can't imagine myself giving her work another try anytime soon.
joyyboyy's review against another edition
3.0
This book did NOT go as expected. Enjoyable ready, love the flashbacks. Curious about how some parts are supposed to really fit together, but love a great surprise plot twist!
mmayhan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
whitmc's review against another edition
5.0
This would get 5 stars alone due to the fact that Weiner got her publishers to release this book *early* during COVID madness, knowing that people need books, whereas so many other book release dates have been delayed. But separately, this book was just exactly a wonderful escape while being smart, sharp, on-point and mysterious. Weiner writing a mystery with the back scope of social media, YES PLEASE. Also, I love how she went back to having the main characters being in their 20s, because I fell in love with Weiner in my 20s, when she was writing about women in their 20s, and I have aged with her heroines, and seeing her hit the 20s again, this time you could tell with the benefit of knowledge and wisdom makes it so lovely and nuanced.
Definitely read this, and read it this summer. Oh--and listen to the interview with Weiner on the "What Should I Read Next" podcast as well.
Definitely read this, and read it this summer. Oh--and listen to the interview with Weiner on the "What Should I Read Next" podcast as well.
caledonia's review against another edition
3.0
This book cant pick. Is it a fun chick lit story about revenge, frenemies and cute boys or is it a murder mystery ? Is everyone a liar or is everyone just innocent and broken ? Is social media good and real or is everyone faking it because the real world sucks ? Please I just wanted a funny summer read with casualties of cheating and ruined wedding not a half assed mystery.
Also, Daphne and Nick, kind of unnecessary, they didn't really have chemistry.
Also, Daphne and Nick, kind of unnecessary, they didn't really have chemistry.
clairemariarose's review against another edition
3.0
this book is definitely NOT what i was expecting (although tbh i had very little idea of what the book was since i only picked it up bc it was a goodreads choice award nominee).
things i enjoyed:
-the representation of a NORMAL BODIED romantic female lead (could have been improved by eliminating the severe impact of fatphobic content on the character’s choices though, but maybe that’s just a me thing)
-the murder (lol)
things i didn’t enjoy:
-the romance (way too rushed, nothing about the characters clicked for me)
-the grudges (nobody likes who they were in high school, so why don’t we all just collectively repress it and get over it?)
-the rich man having multiple affairs and secret children (ugh so trite)
things i hated:
-the influencer lifestyle (just no)
so yeah three stars (mostly for the murder lol)
WOW HOW MANY PARENTHESES DID I USE IN THIS REVIEW
things i enjoyed:
-the representation of a NORMAL BODIED romantic female lead (could have been improved by eliminating the severe impact of fatphobic content on the character’s choices though, but maybe that’s just a me thing)
-the murder (lol)
things i didn’t enjoy:
-the romance (way too rushed, nothing about the characters clicked for me)
-the grudges (nobody likes who they were in high school, so why don’t we all just collectively repress it and get over it?)
-the rich man having multiple affairs and secret children (ugh so trite)
things i hated:
-the influencer lifestyle (just no)
so yeah three stars (mostly for the murder lol)
WOW HOW MANY PARENTHESES DID I USE IN THIS REVIEW