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catmomchantel's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of descriptions and reviews use the adjective "funny" to describe Flattery's writing but I guess I just didn't get the humor. Although I kept an open mind while reading these stories, I failed to see much of any humor. I liked the stories, but, in my eyes, they seemed to portray a variety of flawed, perhaps mentally ill, abused, or mistreated women. Even with the surreal setting and writing style, I failed to find even "Abortion, A Love Story" all that funny, despite the very absurd nature of the short story"
But none of this is to say that I didn't like these stories, because I did. They left me feeling haunted and emotional, but, even through a lens of dark humor (something I'm not opposed to!) this maybe got 1 singular chuckle out of me. I say, read this with an open mind, but don't expect it to be downright laugh-out-loud funny.
But none of this is to say that I didn't like these stories, because I did. They left me feeling haunted and emotional, but, even through a lens of dark humor (something I'm not opposed to!) this maybe got 1 singular chuckle out of me. I say, read this with an open mind, but don't expect it to be downright laugh-out-loud funny.
gasperyjacques's review against another edition
funny
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dmoralessoto's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
garleighc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
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? It's complicated
3.25
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
platypusinplaid's review against another edition
2.5
AUDREY'S ONE-SENTENCE BOOK REVIEWS
a lot of incredible one-liners in here, but none more powerful than "that's what the audience will want." "yeah, and let's not give it to them."
a lot of incredible one-liners in here, but none more powerful than "that's what the audience will want." "yeah, and let's not give it to them."
haircurtains's review against another edition
If u want to read something sad-girl-dark-feminine-rage cuz tiktok told u to, read this instead of my year of rest and relaxation. I loved “abortion, a love story;” “‘it’s so beautiful on earth,’ she said. ‘I haven’t seen much of the outside world’ ‘have you been in prison?’ ‘Sort of.’”
literarycrushes's review against another edition
5.0
The all-female protagonists in Nicole Flattery’s short story collection, Show Me A Good Time, are a subversive group. Each woman is in the midst of some turmoil in her life – abuse, financial ruin, anxiety – and in most cases, the problem is not something she cares to do anything about. Flattery’s (often self-described) nihilistic and ambitionless characters have a strong resemblance to those of Ottessa Moshfegh’s in My Year of Rest and Relaxation and Halle Butler’s The New Me. Rather than treat these attributes as shortcomings, Flattery uses them to as jumping off points for unique brand of dark comedy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. I struggled a bit with ‘Abortion, A Love Story,’ which was unfortunately the longest of the collection, set on a dystopian college campus where two female students set about writing an absurdist play. But Flattery’s unusual perceptions about her characters’ inability to connect felt refreshing, even on a subject that has been written about endlessly in the last few years.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. I struggled a bit with ‘Abortion, A Love Story,’ which was unfortunately the longest of the collection, set on a dystopian college campus where two female students set about writing an absurdist play. But Flattery’s unusual perceptions about her characters’ inability to connect felt refreshing, even on a subject that has been written about endlessly in the last few years.
zdkb24's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
rachelosullivan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75