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redhickory's review against another edition
3.0
This story won't be for everyone, it is slow paced and doesn't have a traditional ending but I enjoyed the "slice of life" and Melbourne setting (it is sooooooo nice to recognise landmarks and other places). A quick and easy read, headings with short sections make the events easy to follow, and there was plenty I found easy to relate to (even though I am years beyond the age of the characters depicted). I did wonder if Lona was depressed and/or neurodiverse and I would have liked these aspects explored, even though that isn't the point in this piece. It was easy to "want" for Lona, and there are plenty of cute and heartwarming moments. 3.5
audreykerr's review against another edition
4.0
This book is probably going to be as polarising as either of Rooney's novels. I loved it, but the ending fell a bit flat for me...but it's definitely one that I could up to 5 star on a reread or more reflection as I feel some of my issues are actually reflections of the issues brought up in the novel (i.e. taste is just internalised misogyny...).
A slice-of-life novel about 19/20 year old Melburnian Lona, a university dropout working a variety of jobs. Somewhat overly dependent on her best (and only) friend Tab and infatuated with being infatuated with boys and Buffy. There's not much plot, only some character development, but there is a whole lot of discussions about internal misogyny and what it means to be a young woman and artist today.
A slice-of-life novel about 19/20 year old Melburnian Lona, a university dropout working a variety of jobs. Somewhat overly dependent on her best (and only) friend Tab and infatuated with being infatuated with boys and Buffy. There's not much plot, only some character development, but there is a whole lot of discussions about internal misogyny and what it means to be a young woman and artist today.
helena1206's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lwhittle's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hannahslibrary92's review against another edition
2.0
*I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I've seen so many positive reviews for this book, but for me personally it just didn't hit the mark.
I felt as if there was no real plot direction, and the characters weren't strong enough or developed enough for a character driven narrative.
I found it to be the kind of book that you get to the end of and aren't really sure what it was about.
I couldn't get super invested in the story and that just left it feeling a little underwhelming.
It was a quick read, though, and did have some interesting moments, so I'd say you should give it a shot as so many people seem to have liked it a whole lot more than I did.
I've seen so many positive reviews for this book, but for me personally it just didn't hit the mark.
I felt as if there was no real plot direction, and the characters weren't strong enough or developed enough for a character driven narrative.
I found it to be the kind of book that you get to the end of and aren't really sure what it was about.
I couldn't get super invested in the story and that just left it feeling a little underwhelming.
It was a quick read, though, and did have some interesting moments, so I'd say you should give it a shot as so many people seem to have liked it a whole lot more than I did.
keepingupwiththepenguins's review against another edition
4.0
In short, sharp chapters, Loner explores some lofty stuff – what is Art(TM)? What’s the difference between being lonely and being alone? How should we navigate “growing up”? But Young uses a light touch, examining the anxieties and complexities of contemporary youth in a way that feels realistic and grounded. Loner lands in that liminal space between Young Adult and Adult-Adult, the millennial love-child of John Green and Sally Rooney. It’s a novel that will make all young Australian introverts feel seen, and appreciated.
An extended review of Loner is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
An extended review of Loner is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
dariasreading's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cateemma's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars tbh
at first i didn't think i would be able to read this simply because it was so bleak and depressing and honestly i'm already depressed enough. but i couldn't put it down and i soon became very attached to the characters. i appreciated that it's set in Melbourne, but it wasn't THAT blatantly Australian, unlike every book set in the US which is blatantly American. also if my tense is off in this review apologies, i'm listening to Christmas music so i'm very distracted.
anyway, i did like this book. i thought the author did an incredible job of writing Lona (the mc) in a way that felt like you were really inside her head, which is especially impressive considering it's in third person. third person present tense which was... a choice. but it kinda worked?
the main fault i see in this book is that despite becoming significantly more hopeful towards the end, the tone of the writing really doesn't change. so i didn't realise til like the last couple chapters (which aren't proper chapters but whatever) that Lona (the mc) was doing better and feeling happier. so despite the author conveying Lona's negative headspace so well, once she was happier the writing still had a negative tone.
if this review makes sense to you congrats, you can understand my Christmas music scrambled headspace :))
at first i didn't think i would be able to read this simply because it was so bleak and depressing and honestly i'm already depressed enough. but i couldn't put it down and i soon became very attached to the characters. i appreciated that it's set in Melbourne, but it wasn't THAT blatantly Australian, unlike every book set in the US which is blatantly American. also if my tense is off in this review apologies, i'm listening to Christmas music so i'm very distracted.
anyway, i did like this book. i thought the author did an incredible job of writing Lona (the mc) in a way that felt like you were really inside her head, which is especially impressive considering it's in third person. third person present tense which was... a choice. but it kinda worked?
the main fault i see in this book is that despite becoming significantly more hopeful towards the end, the tone of the writing really doesn't change. so i didn't realise til like the last couple chapters (which aren't proper chapters but whatever) that Lona (the mc) was doing better and feeling happier. so despite the author conveying Lona's negative headspace so well, once she was happier the writing still had a negative tone.
if this review makes sense to you congrats, you can understand my Christmas music scrambled headspace :))
bexcapades's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
This is an easy to read YA contemporary fiction set in Melbourne that follows Lona's journey into navigating what she wants to do with her life after dropping out of her arts course at university. It shows the awkwardness of a first relationship, working a job you don't really care for and being part of the boomerang generation.
This is an easy to read YA contemporary fiction set in Melbourne that follows Lona's journey into navigating what she wants to do with her life after dropping out of her arts course at university. It shows the awkwardness of a first relationship, working a job you don't really care for and being part of the boomerang generation.