rebbemcc's review against another edition
4.0
Really, really enjoyed the story, the characters, the writing, all of it.
kayladaniella's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 stars
"I hadn't understood that people you loved could do things you didn't love. And, still, you could keep loving them.”
MARY JANE!! This book was so different and refreshing, I loved every second of reading this. It was sooo much fun! The writing was quite juvenile, but it works for the story as the book is in the POV of a 14 year old naive girl. I want to reread this book already!!!
I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this one. It...there's no actual words to describe it. I bought this book because it was comped to Daisy Jones & The Six, which is actually such a bad comp, they are absolutely nothing alike but whatever. Least to say, I wasn't really expecting what I actually got from this book, but oh my I'm so happy I got to read this. It's set in the 70s so already bonus points.
The author managed to write people in such a raw and real way that felt like I was in the Cones house. Mary Jane lives in a very conservative Christian family and her job to babysit over the summer is with a very "hippie" loose Jewish family. They are NOTHING like her family and she's shocked to see people, let alone grown adults, act the way they do. Also at the Cones house over the summer was a rock and roll star and his wife whose undergoing therapy from Dr. Cone. The story follows their summer through the absurd ups and down and just shows humanity in such a beautiful, awful, real way. I felt such a profound connection to the characters and to their lives. Just wow.
"I hadn't understood that people you loved could do things you didn't love. And, still, you could keep loving them.”
MARY JANE!! This book was so different and refreshing, I loved every second of reading this. It was sooo much fun! The writing was quite juvenile, but it works for the story as the book is in the POV of a 14 year old naive girl. I want to reread this book already!!!
I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this one. It...there's no actual words to describe it. I bought this book because it was comped to Daisy Jones & The Six, which is actually such a bad comp, they are absolutely nothing alike but whatever. Least to say, I wasn't really expecting what I actually got from this book, but oh my I'm so happy I got to read this. It's set in the 70s so already bonus points.
The author managed to write people in such a raw and real way that felt like I was in the Cones house. Mary Jane lives in a very conservative Christian family and her job to babysit over the summer is with a very "hippie" loose Jewish family. They are NOTHING like her family and she's shocked to see people, let alone grown adults, act the way they do. Also at the Cones house over the summer was a rock and roll star and his wife whose undergoing therapy from Dr. Cone. The story follows their summer through the absurd ups and down and just shows humanity in such a beautiful, awful, real way. I felt such a profound connection to the characters and to their lives. Just wow.
rachelh_101's review against another edition
4.0
"Until I met Jimmy, I hadn't understood that people you loved could do things you didn't love. And, still, you could keep loving them."
This book explored people, and in the seventies which is even better. There are few books that I can say make me actually care about characters, but this was definitely one of them. There was great pleasure in experiencing the Cone's chaos with Mary Jane. I could have read three hundred more pages about Mary Jane's cooking and the joy that music had on this family. This book was a true delight.
Rating: 4.5/5
TW:
drug use
This book explored people, and in the seventies which is even better. There are few books that I can say make me actually care about characters, but this was definitely one of them. There was great pleasure in experiencing the Cone's chaos with Mary Jane. I could have read three hundred more pages about Mary Jane's cooking and the joy that music had on this family. This book was a true delight.
Rating: 4.5/5
TW:
drug use
vinylbookgirl's review against another edition
5.0
This is hands down my favorite book of 2021 so far! As soon as I picked it up I fell in love with Mary Jane and I just couldn't put it down!
hello_geenie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i literally listened to this entire book today while cleaning my room stuck in quarantine and it felt like such a refreshing story. throughout the story mary jane being a nanny for this family proves to be just as beneficial to her as it is for this family. theres something about characters realizing that they have different views from their family and learning that thats okay and good that will always get to me. this felt like such a sweet story and i loved all of the interactions between mary jane and the family she nannys for.
brooklynnb103's review against another edition
5.0
This book was phenomenal. It was a beautiful coming of age story and perfectly encapsulated the time of learning about yourself and your values. I loved how MJ was around these different influences and changed, but she didn’t become them. She just learned that there are different ways of living life. I loved most of the characters, and the ones I didn’t like were still wonderfully written.
I just love this book & I love the 70’s vibes!!!
I just love this book & I love the 70’s vibes!!!
jessamesquivel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.5