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boomboomboom's review
dark
reflective
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
4.0
thevivifriend's review
5.0
This was Camus The Stranger to me. I also half remember The Stranger but I definitely wasn’t as entertained.
Accessible and bingeable.
Good job at portraying the internal monologue of people who might feel strange to others. Also strong neurodivergence vibes. I was amazed it was so fast paced despite being so focused on how a character feels.Impressed how succinct the author in expressing complex feelings.
Relatable portrayal of anxiety but I would have loved for at least one other character to relate to Gilda’s struggles a lot sooner.
Loved the ending so much, not what I expected. Learn from this Camus, this is what we wanted from you!!!
I picked this book because the bunny
Accessible and bingeable.
Good job at portraying the internal monologue of people who might feel strange to others. Also strong neurodivergence vibes. I was amazed it was so fast paced despite being so focused on how a character feels.Impressed how succinct the author in expressing complex feelings.
Relatable portrayal of anxiety but I would have loved for at least one other character to relate to Gilda’s struggles a lot sooner.
Loved the ending so much, not what I expected. Learn from this Camus, this is what we wanted from you!!!
I picked this book because the bunny
donnawr1's review
3.0
I appreciated that the author seemed to be accurately portraying what it is like to be inside the head of a person with severe anxiety and depression, along with poor self esteem and an inability to relate well to others. On the other hand, it was unpleasant to be inside the head of someone like that for so long. The protagonist was fixated on death after her pet rabbit died when she was a child, so she has had serious problems for a long time. She accidentally walked into a job as an administrator at a Catholic Church, which is weird for her as an atheist and a lesbian. I suppose some people find this hilarious, but it fell a bit flat for me. The suspense over who killed the previous administrator doesn't carry enough tension for me and was pretty predictable by the end. I think this book would be more enjoyable for a different reader.
lislbelt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
amanda_the_librarian's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bethanyhenderson's review
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
erinhanx's review
5.0
"...I keep noticing so many people aren't happy, and it's been making me feel sick. I keep looking at everyone and thinking, Oh my God, I just want them to smile. I keep staring at people's mouths. Do you know what I mean? I keep thinking, Oh my God, I just wish you were smiling—"
Rosemary nods. "Yes, I have thought about that too.” She looks at my mouth. "Now, do you ever think about how people might wish that for you?"
--
There are some books that I'm pretty sure wouldn't have understood if I'd read them at any other age. This is one of those books.
At 23, I would have found it too morbid; at 33, I imagine I'd be shouting into the pages for Gilda to get a grip. But at 27 - the same age as the protagonist - I feel like I picked this book up at the perfect time in my life.
Even if you're not anxious about death as intensely and consumingly as Gilda, if you're in your mid-late 20's I really recommend reading this. Emily Austin really captures and amplifies (key word!) the very specific existential feelings of this period in your life, when your prefrontal cortex has come in like a painful wisdom tooth.
You're not in your prime yet, yet you feel like you've surpassed it.
You can't drink as much as you used to, your back starts to hurt, and you realise you have a finite amount of time to do everything you want to.
You've witnessed more death and grief, but also more love and friendship and the many variations of people.
You start to question how your upbringing and experiences have shaped who you are. You start to recognise the same in others, and how it's impossible for everyone to feel the same way about everything.
It becomes easier to avoid responding to texts, because expressing yourself in a short yet permanent message is hard.
You want to respond "Everything is weird and scary and exciting all at once. I just wanted to let you know that I see you. I love you. I'm proud of you. Life with a brain is hard and you're doing great. We're very different people, but I hope you see how much I'm trying too."
But instead you settle for "I'm fine thanks how are you?"
Your identity is written and re-written a million times a day. It's simultaneously beautiful and painful and terrifying.
Plates pile up in the sink.
--
*I wanted to give this 4.5 stars as the writing is clunky, in parts, but Goodreads doesn't let you do that and rounding down felt unfair, so 5 stars it is!
Rosemary nods. "Yes, I have thought about that too.” She looks at my mouth. "Now, do you ever think about how people might wish that for you?"
--
There are some books that I'm pretty sure wouldn't have understood if I'd read them at any other age. This is one of those books.
At 23, I would have found it too morbid; at 33, I imagine I'd be shouting into the pages for Gilda to get a grip. But at 27 - the same age as the protagonist - I feel like I picked this book up at the perfect time in my life.
Even if you're not anxious about death as intensely and consumingly as Gilda, if you're in your mid-late 20's I really recommend reading this. Emily Austin really captures and amplifies (key word!) the very specific existential feelings of this period in your life, when your prefrontal cortex has come in like a painful wisdom tooth.
You're not in your prime yet, yet you feel like you've surpassed it.
You can't drink as much as you used to, your back starts to hurt, and you realise you have a finite amount of time to do everything you want to.
You've witnessed more death and grief, but also more love and friendship and the many variations of people.
You start to question how your upbringing and experiences have shaped who you are. You start to recognise the same in others, and how it's impossible for everyone to feel the same way about everything.
It becomes easier to avoid responding to texts, because expressing yourself in a short yet permanent message is hard.
You want to respond "Everything is weird and scary and exciting all at once. I just wanted to let you know that I see you. I love you. I'm proud of you. Life with a brain is hard and you're doing great. We're very different people, but I hope you see how much I'm trying too."
But instead you settle for "I'm fine thanks how are you?"
Your identity is written and re-written a million times a day. It's simultaneously beautiful and painful and terrifying.
Plates pile up in the sink.
--
*I wanted to give this 4.5 stars as the writing is clunky, in parts, but Goodreads doesn't let you do that and rounding down felt unfair, so 5 stars it is!
sterresreads's review
4.25
i saw someone say that this book is one big panic attack, and i fully agree with that.
the writing style fits the issues that gilda is facing so well, and the disorientedness of the short paragraphs feels like a realistic portrayal of anxiety.
really liked this book
the writing style fits the issues that gilda is facing so well, and the disorientedness of the short paragraphs feels like a realistic portrayal of anxiety.
really liked this book
ktinaisabel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism