angelasunshine's review against another edition
4.0
Funny to read this book now, during a pandemic. Love the social commentary.
john1177's review
2.0
1.5 stars...rounding up to 2.
Some interesting ideas and chapters. But I felt more annoyed than invested.
Most of the characters blurred together without much difference in personality.
A lot of the political issues seem superficial and simplistic. The POVs from scientists or world leaders are unbelievable. Even at meetings of Interpol and MI5 (I think?), to discuss the end of the Chinese civil war, the characters seem more interested in who’s wearing leggings and showed up straight from a pilates class…
I can’t put my finger on it, but the whole thing feels filtered through a Pinteresty, millennial #winemom point of view.
This has been done before, and better.
(Also...I guess #prayforthemiddleeast because it's apparently just "gone black" and no one's heard from them???)
Some interesting ideas and chapters. But I felt more annoyed than invested.
Most of the characters blurred together without much difference in personality.
A lot of the political issues seem superficial and simplistic. The POVs from scientists or world leaders are unbelievable. Even at meetings of Interpol and MI5 (I think?), to discuss the end of the Chinese civil war, the characters seem more interested in who’s wearing leggings and showed up straight from a pilates class…
I can’t put my finger on it, but the whole thing feels filtered through a Pinteresty, millennial #winemom point of view.
This has been done before, and better.
(Also...I guess #prayforthemiddleeast because it's apparently just "gone black" and no one's heard from them???)
pattonesque's review against another edition
4.0
4.5, worried I'd hate reading it during Covid, actually it somehow helped. Loved the premise, happy with the ending. There could be so many books written in this world!
jenn_3's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I felt like this book had so much potential but I kind of hated it. I forced myself to skim my way through the second half. Just felt to me, like too much going on. Too many story lines. Maybe also reading about a pandemic while 'getting out of one' isn't the best. Poor timing for the book. Probably would have been a hit 5 years ago
laja's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
georgemay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
noramestrich's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
This book took me forever to read bc it was such a slog to get through and nothing happened!
jessreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? No
4.5
daisieee's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
mandyist's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps it's unfair, but the whole way through reading this, I couldn't help but unfavourably compare it to Jane Hennigan's Moths and the actual pandemic we're living through. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook - that was extremely well done and helped differentiate the many different perspectives - but the narration also highlighted how untrue many of the actions and opinions of the characters rang.
I may update my star rating in future. It's 2.5 stars for me and I can't decide whether to round up or down. But I agree with many of the complaints about this book.
I may update my star rating in future. It's 2.5 stars for me and I can't decide whether to round up or down. But I agree with many of the complaints about this book.