alenert's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
I'm feeling quite conflicted about how to rate this book! On the one hand, it took me over a month to read, and usually for me that means I'm just not interested. I had trouble really connecting and caring about the characters from the beginning, which I think was the main issue for me with this as a whole. I switched to audio about a third of the way through to get through a bit more speedily.
However, I did get more invested in by the end of part 2 and beginning of part 3, and the ending was one that makes you kind of sit with it and ponder for a bit, which are often my favorite endings, even if I have QUESTIONS about parts of it!
I want to note that I think I had misaligned expectations—from the description I believed this would be more focused on the Charlie/Fran romance than it actually was—she is important in it, but it's really Charlie's story, and Fran plays just one part in that. I think if I reread this (which I actually think I may do one day) I would enjoy it more knowing more so what kind of story it is.
Overall I'm giving this a 3.75—I can't quite give it a 4 because I wasn't invested for over half of the book... but I do think I could read it again and appreciate it more.
However, I did get more invested in by the end of part 2 and beginning of part 3, and the ending was one that makes you kind of sit with it and ponder for a bit, which are often my favorite endings, even if I have QUESTIONS about parts of it!
Spoiler
Notably, I appreciate the pondering over Charlie and Fran—it makes sense that they aren't gonna get back together after 20 years of not speaking/seeing each other, and that they both still have fond memories of first love, but she's with GEORGE?? I did wish it had been some rando lol.I want to note that I think I had misaligned expectations—from the description I believed this would be more focused on the Charlie/Fran romance than it actually was—she is important in it, but it's really Charlie's story, and Fran plays just one part in that. I think if I reread this (which I actually think I may do one day) I would enjoy it more knowing more so what kind of story it is.
Overall I'm giving this a 3.75—I can't quite give it a 4 because I wasn't invested for over half of the book... but I do think I could read it again and appreciate it more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Suicidal thoughts
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