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brittishliterature's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.5
This book. Wow, this was my first Fredrik Backman, and I’m in love. This story was incredibly kind, full of heart and wisdom, and filled with such relatable, human characters.
The little plot twists here and there, the way that Backman left me guessing—at times I thought I knew what was going on and then it all continued to evolve into one big, beautifully crafted, interwoven tale. The ending had me sobbing.
And Marin Ireland was a superb narrator 🤌🏼 Listening along made for such a delightful experience and really added to the personality of the characters. Looking forward to checking out the Netflix adaptation as well!
I loved this book so much 🥺❤️
The little plot twists here and there, the way that Backman left me guessing—at times I thought I knew what was going on and then it all continued to evolve into one big, beautifully crafted, interwoven tale. The ending had me sobbing.
And Marin Ireland was a superb narrator 🤌🏼 Listening along made for such a delightful experience and really added to the personality of the characters. Looking forward to checking out the Netflix adaptation as well!
I loved this book so much 🥺❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
emmyrandomreport's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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
This was a fun book that also addressed hard issues. Mostly focused on mental illness and preventing suicide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Lesbophobia
sj_54's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Context: Had to read this for a book club. Would have DNFed otherwise.
Characters were one-dimensional until the last 1/4 of the book or so, then everything got tied up with a nice 'wholesome message, everyone gets a happily-ever-after' bow.
Maybe it's me but I have no patience for authors who introduce characters by their most annoying traits. Then expect us to like them by the end?? I don't even know how I feel about the story itself because it was such a struggle to listen (audiobook) to everyone whine and complain about each other for the first 3/4 of the book.
Extra things that I disliked: all the terrible stereotypes. Old lady is introduced as invisible/inconsequential because of her age, lesbians got together through an affair, super rich person who looks down on everyone else has hidden feelings that mean she's just like the rest of us.
Oh and the bank robber is never referred to with any pronouns and GASP it's a woman when everyone assumed it was a man! Can we please drop the 'surprise! women are never expected to do dangerous things!' twist, it's so tired...
Characters were one-dimensional until the last 1/4 of the book or so, then everything got tied up with a nice 'wholesome message, everyone gets a happily-ever-after' bow.
Maybe it's me but I have no patience for authors who introduce characters by their most annoying traits. Then expect us to like them by the end?? I don't even know how I feel about the story itself because it was such a struggle to listen (audiobook) to everyone whine and complain about each other for the first 3/4 of the book.
Extra things that I disliked: all the terrible stereotypes. Old lady is introduced as invisible/inconsequential because of her age, lesbians got together through an affair, super rich person who looks down on everyone else has hidden feelings that mean she's just like the rest of us.
Oh and
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Blood, and Lesbophobia
skudiklier's review against another edition
This is like a comedy of errors except the narrator is an annoying, sexist old man complaining about "youth these days" and how the state of the world is worse with internet and social media. I think it could be cute and heartfelt if it weren't for the narrator's annoying asides, and the annoying way all the women are clearly ridiculous and babbling while only men are reasonable and logical (except of course this only applies to the men and women above the age of 30. Anyone younger is peak stereotypical teenager/millennial). Instead I'm frustrated with all the people and situations, and I don't find any of the humor funny. It feels like a parody of something deep? Ugh I just. I can't remember that last time I DNFed a book from disliking it, but I just couldn't get through it.
A lot of it feels like "old man yells at cloud" in the sense that he's just complaining about gluten free bread and writing caricatures of teenagers who are only ever on social media and who find it offensive to talk about someone's height. It makes me sure I'll never want to read anything by this author.
A lot of it feels like "old man yells at cloud" in the sense that he's just complaining about gluten free bread and writing caricatures of teenagers who are only ever on social media and who find it offensive to talk about someone's height. It makes me sure I'll never want to read anything by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Ableism, Drug abuse, Racism, and Lesbophobia
lena04's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Addiction, Confinement, Gun violence, Racism, and Lesbophobia
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