Scan barcode
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Grief, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
jencolumb0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
That conversation and the (obviously well-researched) bits about Florentine artists, particularly female artists, as well as the over-arching conversation of how women must and chose to live their lives around men in a patriarchy (cleverly woven into the story) were heady contrasts to the relatively mundane passage of time memorialized in the book.
I, too, adore Florence. Like many of the characters in the book, I went when I was young, the city promptly imprinted itself onto my heart, and I have returned at every opportunity since, peeling back layers to reveal new aspects of my freedom each time. You would think that I would adore this book, too. And I did. For the first 250 pages or so.
Then, the action in the book just kind of petered out: the characters continued to bounce between the pub in London and the pensione in Florence, learning very little new about themselves and nothing surprising happened to them in fact. I am still not entirely sure why we all had to hang onto getting through through the 70s to achieve the ends of the book. Perhaps, on the heels of a Rachel Joyce book, I was ready to read something with a bit more action. Nonetheless, a lovely read that should be a priority for anyone heading to Florence or whose heart belongs there.
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Car accident, and Abortion
frankieclc's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia
julied's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
mandkips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, and Murder
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
- 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
It did take me a little while to run with the style (which is a bit quirky but totally suits the story), but once I got into it I was completely invested. And the characters; my god they're the most amazing, beautiful, ridiculous bunch and they made the whole book. I particularly loved some of the more unlikely touches, like a parrot randomly reciting Shakespeare, or the brilliantly funny connection between Col's string of girlfriends.
I loved the small, intimate moments as much as I did the grand, sweeping landscapes and stunning descriptions. The story has sadness in abundance, but it has so much joy and wonder that it just made me happy.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Toxic relationship
ye_li's review against another edition
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
daisydoolie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
Graphic: Death and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The characters are really lovely and the storyline is sweet. The authors style of writing is interesting, because in a way ith feels like a still life (in a good way).
However, it felt like eating to much lemon cake ( In the beginning it tastes amazing, but after a while you are just not hungry anymore, but you still have to finish the cake and you are starting to feel sick. If you are a person that can eat endless amounts of lemon cake without feeling sick, I strongly recommend this book)
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Murder
epellicci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content