wild_er_ness's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
freyanjani's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The book is wrapped as this female Fight Club-esque story, about women who made a Supper Club to eat (a lot) and take space. I do agree how the title misled what this book was about because the Supper Club itself only took up like probably 30% of the plot, and the rest focused on Roberta and the back and forth storytelling of her University times and current problems. But I didn’t mind it, to be honest. I think both aspects were perfectly balamced, but I do wish the Supper Club was more incorporated to Roberta’s plot.
My only strong feeling about this book is that it’s too relatable. Everything that Roberta narrates are so eerily… me. At times I keep thinking I hated the way she feels about certain things and I’m like “Wait, is it because I also think that way??”. Roberta’s so self-depricating and sad, and most of all she rarely believes in herself. Some parts of her thoughts are so embarrassing and negative and I keep realizing I’m only apalled because I am exactly the same. If this book makes you question Roberta’s personality and morals I think it might have hit you too close to home, at least it did with me.
Sometimes it’s also romanticizing a lot of harmful things, almost indulgent, like the part about self harm. But then again I think it does Roberta’s narrative some justice, after all the book Is from her pov. I do think if one was suicidal/actively SH, this would’ve been triggering.
Spoiler
There was a part where there’s a trans character as well but the author went back to using their old pronouns just to give this dramatic transformational effect that I thought wasn’t necessary but I digress because I don’t have a place to say whether that’s ethical or not as I am a cis woman.All in all, it was satisfying but there are too much ehhhh moments that didn’t make it spectacularly good. It’s a solid read and I think it gives a unique perspective on late adulthood coming of age, people in their 20s deserves more of these stories. If you liked Normal People, My Year of Rest and Relaxations, or any other book with a passive—almost unlikeable—female narrator and main character that’s deeply sad and more than a little fucked up; this is for you.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
kateali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Self harm, and Rape
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Vomit
Minor: Fatphobia, Drug use, and Adult/minor relationship
purplewaterbottle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The characters were not likable, but I don't think they were meant to be. There is a difference between characters who are supposed to be liked and characters who aren't, and the ones we have here are definitely in the second category. They aren't perfect - the exact opposite, actually - but I still like them, because they have DEPTH, which is exactly what I look for in a character.
This book made me breath and choke at the same time and I loved every second of it. You feel free and anchored to it but you can't decide which you prefer - if you have a preference at all. The recipes were (ironically) the cherry on top.
The only problem I encountered was, maybe, all the names. I remembered some of them but others were just too easily forgotten.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape
mermaidsherbet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Self harm
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, Blood, Bullying, Racism, Infidelity, and Abandonment
dottydilemma's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, and Eating disorder
bookmarksnbreadsticks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder and Self harm