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angel__emma__'s review
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
portybelle's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
All About Evie is another wonderfully nostalgic read from Matson Taylor. It’s set in the early 1970s and even if you are too young to remember this time, he has created a wonderful sense of the era with fashions, music, news and even food all mentioned.
I really enjoyed the sections of the book called ‘Interludes’ where we meet some of the other characters at significant points of their lives which feed then into Evie’s story. In one of the early interludes, I was amused to see a mention of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Lauriston Place. I’ve recently spent a lot of time there as the revamped building is the new home for the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It seemed apt that it popped up in the very book I was reading on my way to and from the festival!
Evie is a wonderful character and her enthusiasm and cheerful exuberance makes her so easy to like. She is far from her home on a Yorkshire farm and embracing all the opportunities that 1970s London has to offer a young woman. I love Evie’s optimistic approach to life. This is such a funny book with some proper laugh out loud moments, and yes I am thinking about the Hornsea Pottery mug incident and inflatable dresses too. There are some fantastic characters in the book, some of whom we’ve met before, and I particularly liked young Genevieve and reading about how she and Evie became firm friends.
Of course, with Evie being that bit older now, love is on the horizon but Evie in her innocence perhaps doesn’t recognise it. It was fun as a reader knowing just who Evie should be with and hoping that she would come to realise it too.
All About Evie is a joyful read and if you are looking for an amusing and uplifting book you could do worse than spend some time in Evie’s company. I would certainly be happy to follow her on her adventures should Matson Taylor decide to write another Evie novel.
jessiemcg's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Super cute, light hearted read. I loved the first one and I loved this. Evie is such a lovely character and I LOVE the fact it’s set in the 70s. Wonderful.
b00kh0arder's review
5.0
At the beginning of The Miseducation of Evie Epworth, we met Evie as she crashed
her father’s car during her milk delivery after seeing a farmer doing something…
unfortunate with a cow. Here, we catch up with her during a similarly disastrously
awkward incident, involving a Hornsea pottery mug full of wee and Princess Anne
(if the chapters had titles, the first would definitely be: ‘why it’s a bad idea to do a
pregnancy test at work’).
And so Evie suddenly finds herself adrift, but maybe, after 10 years at the BBC, this
is the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself. After finding a new job at a magazine,
she thinks she might’ve found her true calling, but Evie’s about to find out that,
although you may have come of age, you never truly stop learning.
You could technically read All About Evie without having read The Miseducation of
Evie Epworth – as key events, such as how and why Evie came to be in London –
are explained/summarised, but I would still recommend reading Miseducation first
because a. although not having read it won’t affect your understanding, you’ll get so
much more out of it if you do. And b. It’s such a good book, why wouldn’t you want to
read it first?
Evie is, as ever, a great main character. Here she’s a little bit older, a little but wiser,
but still approaches everything with her same brand of optimism and wit – there are
so many quotable lines but, at the time of writing this, the only one I can recall
verbatim is “I am forever destined to be the Johnny to someone else’s Fanny.”
(Craddock that is – get your mind out of the gutter.) And well as returning characters
like the glamourous Caroline and more down to earth Digby, we have a whole raft of
new characters to either fall in love with or love to hate: Lolo, a big Welsh cinnamon
roll who works for Radio 3; Genevieve, aspiring fashion designer and dynamo in hot
pants and sequins; and the staff of ‘Right On!’ magazine: the two Nicks (‘withcollars’
and ‘stickupbum’) and Griffin, a hippie still clinging to the sixties and intellectual snob
(we’ve all had the misfortune to at least encounter a Griffin).
Also like the previous book, interspersed throughout are little interludes that take up
other plot threads.
All, in all, All About Evie is a great sequel as well as a great book in its own right. I
look forward to whatever Matson writes next, whether it be the continuation of Evie’s
story or something new!
her father’s car during her milk delivery after seeing a farmer doing something…
unfortunate with a cow. Here, we catch up with her during a similarly disastrously
awkward incident, involving a Hornsea pottery mug full of wee and Princess Anne
(if the chapters had titles, the first would definitely be: ‘why it’s a bad idea to do a
pregnancy test at work’).
And so Evie suddenly finds herself adrift, but maybe, after 10 years at the BBC, this
is the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself. After finding a new job at a magazine,
she thinks she might’ve found her true calling, but Evie’s about to find out that,
although you may have come of age, you never truly stop learning.
You could technically read All About Evie without having read The Miseducation of
Evie Epworth – as key events, such as how and why Evie came to be in London –
are explained/summarised, but I would still recommend reading Miseducation first
because a. although not having read it won’t affect your understanding, you’ll get so
much more out of it if you do. And b. It’s such a good book, why wouldn’t you want to
read it first?
Evie is, as ever, a great main character. Here she’s a little bit older, a little but wiser,
but still approaches everything with her same brand of optimism and wit – there are
so many quotable lines but, at the time of writing this, the only one I can recall
verbatim is “I am forever destined to be the Johnny to someone else’s Fanny.”
(Craddock that is – get your mind out of the gutter.) And well as returning characters
like the glamourous Caroline and more down to earth Digby, we have a whole raft of
new characters to either fall in love with or love to hate: Lolo, a big Welsh cinnamon
roll who works for Radio 3; Genevieve, aspiring fashion designer and dynamo in hot
pants and sequins; and the staff of ‘Right On!’ magazine: the two Nicks (‘withcollars’
and ‘stickupbum’) and Griffin, a hippie still clinging to the sixties and intellectual snob
(we’ve all had the misfortune to at least encounter a Griffin).
Also like the previous book, interspersed throughout are little interludes that take up
other plot threads.
All, in all, All About Evie is a great sequel as well as a great book in its own right. I
look forward to whatever Matson writes next, whether it be the continuation of Evie’s
story or something new!
thumbetina's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.25
stephjones71's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Joyous! Light hearted but so enjoyable. Fabulous characters and deft touch by the author
sam48bell's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? N/A
4.0
thelibraryofimagination's review against another edition
5.0
All About Evie by Matson Taylor is the second book in the Evie Epworth Trilogy. It is now 1972 and Evie is living her best life in London, until she is not.
All About Evie starts with an unfortunate event that is completely Evie and absolutely Matson. I knew from the very first chapter that I was going to love this book.
Evie is her usual witty self, with her laughable foibles and a certain sweetness that fills your heart with admiration, even love. She remains a brilliant character, her essence vibrant and joyful. In this book, we are introduced to new characters (with comical but completely appropriate nicknames). They too are equipped with vibrant personalities. Even the new antagonist maintains the dreadfulness of the first book. I am over the moon that Taylor was able to encapsulate the essence of the first book, which I completely loved.
The writing is classic Taylor: engaging, entertaining, enchanting. The prose sings with witty lists, profound analogies, and a romantic flair. The pace keeps you reading. And the descriptions (of some very intricate fashion) immerse you in London during 1972. And I cannot forget to mention the excellent choice in music that is mentioned throughout the book. (Yes, I have created a playlist, why wouldn’t I?)
Matson skillfully tells another heartfelt story. The topics covered in this book (love, loss, self-esteem, grief) are written delicately and heartbreakingly realistic. He has captured the human essence. I have never been more pleased with a man writing female characters.
All About Evie is a must read, in my opinion. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend starting at the beginning to get the absolute best of Evie and her wonderful friends and family. I look forward to the next decade in Evie’s life. Thanks again for such a lovely book Matson, you’re absolutely brilliant.
All About Evie starts with an unfortunate event that is completely Evie and absolutely Matson. I knew from the very first chapter that I was going to love this book.
Evie is her usual witty self, with her laughable foibles and a certain sweetness that fills your heart with admiration, even love. She remains a brilliant character, her essence vibrant and joyful. In this book, we are introduced to new characters (with comical but completely appropriate nicknames). They too are equipped with vibrant personalities. Even the new antagonist maintains the dreadfulness of the first book. I am over the moon that Taylor was able to encapsulate the essence of the first book, which I completely loved.
The writing is classic Taylor: engaging, entertaining, enchanting. The prose sings with witty lists, profound analogies, and a romantic flair. The pace keeps you reading. And the descriptions (of some very intricate fashion) immerse you in London during 1972. And I cannot forget to mention the excellent choice in music that is mentioned throughout the book. (Yes, I have created a playlist, why wouldn’t I?)
Matson skillfully tells another heartfelt story. The topics covered in this book (love, loss, self-esteem, grief) are written delicately and heartbreakingly realistic. He has captured the human essence. I have never been more pleased with a man writing female characters.
All About Evie is a must read, in my opinion. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend starting at the beginning to get the absolute best of Evie and her wonderful friends and family. I look forward to the next decade in Evie’s life. Thanks again for such a lovely book Matson, you’re absolutely brilliant.
abercrombie1986's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I think I liked this one more than the first. If Evie as a child was charming, she is even bolder as an adult. And her story is more poignant in this book.
While it is set 10 years after the first one, it is still very much a coming of age novel, just a different age. An adult. Questioning your place in the world and finding your people. I loved the culture references. And loved even more that it brought a tear or two to my eyes while still being a light and easy read.
I rooted hard for Evie and wanted very much for her to succeed in life and love.
While it is set 10 years after the first one, it is still very much a coming of age novel, just a different age. An adult. Questioning your place in the world and finding your people. I loved the culture references. And loved even more that it brought a tear or two to my eyes while still being a light and easy read.
I rooted hard for Evie and wanted very much for her to succeed in life and love.