joyyboyy's review against another edition
2.0
Witty in some areas and otherwise catastrophically unorganized in plot development & character POV. I was bummed about the ending.
rebbemcc's review against another edition
4.0
“In fact, the problem with having a family at all was that nobody noticed if you were dead or alive until dinner went unmade and they found your torso floating in the dirty water behind IKEA.”
Love writing like this. Quirky and unbelievable but also completely realistic?
Love writing like this. Quirky and unbelievable but also completely realistic?
nadia's review
funny
lighthearted
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
2.75
I actually got into this a lot more than I thought I would. I decided to finally listen to this book, which I'd redeemed for free ages ago as part of Libro.fm's ALC Program, while in Cobble Hill.
Despite that, I didn't care for the characters at all and nothing really happens. Sometimes nothing really happens in a book but you still feel you took something deeper away from the experience of reading it. With this one, I didn't take anything away from it at all beyond the surface level entertainment I got from peeking into the characters' lives.
Also, lots of fatphobic comments in this one!
Despite that, I didn't care for the characters at all and nothing really happens. Sometimes nothing really happens in a book but you still feel you took something deeper away from the experience of reading it. With this one, I didn't take anything away from it at all beyond the surface level entertainment I got from peeking into the characters' lives.
Also, lots of fatphobic comments in this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Infidelity
catreader18's review against another edition
2.0
Cobble Hill is an upscale neighborhood in New York with rich and not so rich families. The story follows the families and their interesting lives.
The book was a good read but did not really have a plot. Each family has their story and sometimes they were mixed with each other but there was no overarching plot.
The book was a good read but did not really have a plot. Each family has their story and sometimes they were mixed with each other but there was no overarching plot.
rrickman33's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars rounded up
I thought this book was enjoyable and i'm surprised it's not being talked about more. Following 4 couples and their children in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn we get to see a peak into a very small tight-knit community. I liked reading along the characters journeys even if some of them were quite all over the place (people casually going to jail, cheating, lighting things on fire, etc).
The book leads up to a 'final night' were all the characters and their stories come together. I was very underwhelmed by this final night and wondered if I was missing something but it appears I was not once the epilogue a year later ends the book. That was it. I wish there had been more to this finale of sorts after so much character development and plots. There were also plots that didn't really go anywhere like the woman's murder in the newspaper that kept being sprinkled in chapters then completely disappeared...?
One of the larger problems I had with this book was how many times it used the word 'fat'. This fat kid, she's fat, I have gotten fat. Like YIKES it was a bit much. I understand characters having weight issues and difficulty with their appearances but random characters with no names were being called fat. Pretty much someone was fat or you could see their bones, I really didn't read anything in-between the two and it felt unnecessary. I hate fat-shaming culture and it's part of my personal soap box as a dietitian but also there's quite a large group of people that don't want to read the word 'fat' on every page either that aren't dietitians.
That word choice aside this novel is a long character driven story leading to a big night where they all come together. If you enjoy stories like that then you should enjoy the book as I did!
I thought this book was enjoyable and i'm surprised it's not being talked about more. Following 4 couples and their children in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn we get to see a peak into a very small tight-knit community. I liked reading along the characters journeys even if some of them were quite all over the place (people casually going to jail, cheating, lighting things on fire, etc).
The book leads up to a 'final night' were all the characters and their stories come together. I was very underwhelmed by this final night and wondered if I was missing something but it appears I was not once the epilogue a year later ends the book. That was it. I wish there had been more to this finale of sorts after so much character development and plots. There were also plots that didn't really go anywhere like the woman's murder in the newspaper that kept being sprinkled in chapters then completely disappeared...?
One of the larger problems I had with this book was how many times it used the word 'fat'. This fat kid, she's fat, I have gotten fat. Like YIKES it was a bit much. I understand characters having weight issues and difficulty with their appearances but random characters with no names were being called fat. Pretty much someone was fat or you could see their bones, I really didn't read anything in-between the two and it felt unnecessary. I hate fat-shaming culture and it's part of my personal soap box as a dietitian but also there's quite a large group of people that don't want to read the word 'fat' on every page either that aren't dietitians.
That word choice aside this novel is a long character driven story leading to a big night where they all come together. If you enjoy stories like that then you should enjoy the book as I did!
morganpdyy's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kylakavanagh's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fschulenberg's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
The exact kind of book I like -- set in NYC, conversation-based, relationship heavy, characters stories largely intertwined. The type of book with a semi limited plot, but a lot of action. Extremely similar to All Adults Here by Emma Straub.
loyaltolit's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
I received an ARC as part of a giveaway. All thoughts are my own.
Okay... so... I loved the characters, and that is about it. I read through this very fast because it is great writing, it has interesting characters, but I kept waiting for something to happen, for ANYTHING to happen. You know how your favorite tv series will have "filler" episodes where nothing outstanding occurs? This whole book felt like that. And is anyone going to acknowledge the main character Stuart Little?! Who played in the band Three Blind Mice... all I could think of was the Stuart Little movie from 1999!
I received an ARC as part of a giveaway. All thoughts are my own.
Okay... so... I loved the characters, and that is about it. I read through this very fast because it is great writing, it has interesting characters, but I kept waiting for something to happen, for ANYTHING to happen. You know how your favorite tv series will have "filler" episodes where nothing outstanding occurs? This whole book felt like that. And is anyone going to acknowledge the main character Stuart Little?! Who played in the band Three Blind Mice... all I could think of was the Stuart Little movie from 1999!