Reviews

Some have called this Normal People for Australians I would counter that with saying that’s it’s closer to Fleabag for Australians. (Although I think that this book doesn’t need to be compared to another work at all and completely stands as its own work)

This book will not be for the everyone, and the character of Penny will not be for everyone, but it’s definitely for me. Penny is struggling with feeling like she’s falling behind in her career, love life and goals. Penny decides that if she can just get the perfect boyfriend, impress her boss and get her life together everything will fall into place.

This book definitely fits into that sub-genre of literary fiction of female protagonist making a series of frustratingly bad decisions. I think I didn’t find it annoying in this case, because I could sympathise with Penny’s motivations and unhealthy thought patterns. And more importantly, she grows a lot as a character throughout the course of this novel.

This book was funny, like actually funny. Not just characters saying something witty in banter - but so much of the writing and story was so funny. I loved Genevieve Novak’s writing and will absolutely be picking up anything else she writes.

The reason for the lost star: I feel like there was a lot of unnecessary body negativity talk. Penny is constantly obsessing with her thighs and her body and how she wishes it was. I don’t think that was a problem in of itself, because it’s consistent with her obsession with validation from others, particularly men. But at the end when she’s finally accepted herself for who she is and where her life is at there’s a mention that’s she’s gone down a dress size. This put a bad taste in my mouth, and could have so easily been left out.

Overall- if you love complicated female characters who are a mess, this is a must read.

1madchild's review against another edition

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3.25

Painful. Accurate
Unlikable narrator
Glad we finally got there in the

uselessanna's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

h3lene's review against another edition

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4.0

I turned 27 this year and I felt I needed some perspective. That's how I found this book. Some things I can relate with. I could even relate to the anxiety and spiral thinking a bit. But it was the ending that I liked the most, probably because of how much I could relate to it.

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