bcgg's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Mary Jane. I am biased by this story as it parallels my own in so many ways (not the Rockstar/Movie star side) but much of the other parts.
The author captures the confusion and tension of a teenager at the point of realizing that the grown ups around her are not perfect and not always right. Still forced to be under their rules starts to feel uncomfortable when never before had they ever been questioned.
With humour and great love, the author shared fully developed characters that gave sight to the many 'types' of people during that timeframe. The racism, the gossip, the 'needing to maintain' the community image that was cocooned from reality and all too white. I lived that life and felt it with every word she wrote.
I found this grasp of emotions, dialogue, beliefs extraordinary so that is why I rated it as a '5'. I am biased but not apologetic. I loved this book.
The author captures the confusion and tension of a teenager at the point of realizing that the grown ups around her are not perfect and not always right. Still forced to be under their rules starts to feel uncomfortable when never before had they ever been questioned.
With humour and great love, the author shared fully developed characters that gave sight to the many 'types' of people during that timeframe. The racism, the gossip, the 'needing to maintain' the community image that was cocooned from reality and all too white. I lived that life and felt it with every word she wrote.
I found this grasp of emotions, dialogue, beliefs extraordinary so that is why I rated it as a '5'. I am biased but not apologetic. I loved this book.
gluntv's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
teddy1404's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book just clicked for me. I fell in love and its easy for me to announce this as my favourite book of the year. I became attached to the gang so quickly and while I'm sad I don't have more of their adventures to read, I'm so happy I picked up this book and experienced their stories ❤️
elizabethb22's review against another edition
i was enjoying it but it made for a boring audiobook; i want to pick up a printed copy
rebbemcc's review against another edition
4.0
Really, really enjoyed the story, the characters, the writing, all of it.
kayladaniella's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 stars
"I hadn't understood that people you loved could do things you didn't love. And, still, you could keep loving them.”
MARY JANE!! This book was so different and refreshing, I loved every second of reading this. It was sooo much fun! The writing was quite juvenile, but it works for the story as the book is in the POV of a 14 year old naive girl. I want to reread this book already!!!
I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this one. It...there's no actual words to describe it. I bought this book because it was comped to Daisy Jones & The Six, which is actually such a bad comp, they are absolutely nothing alike but whatever. Least to say, I wasn't really expecting what I actually got from this book, but oh my I'm so happy I got to read this. It's set in the 70s so already bonus points.
The author managed to write people in such a raw and real way that felt like I was in the Cones house. Mary Jane lives in a very conservative Christian family and her job to babysit over the summer is with a very "hippie" loose Jewish family. They are NOTHING like her family and she's shocked to see people, let alone grown adults, act the way they do. Also at the Cones house over the summer was a rock and roll star and his wife whose undergoing therapy from Dr. Cone. The story follows their summer through the absurd ups and down and just shows humanity in such a beautiful, awful, real way. I felt such a profound connection to the characters and to their lives. Just wow.
"I hadn't understood that people you loved could do things you didn't love. And, still, you could keep loving them.”
MARY JANE!! This book was so different and refreshing, I loved every second of reading this. It was sooo much fun! The writing was quite juvenile, but it works for the story as the book is in the POV of a 14 year old naive girl. I want to reread this book already!!!
I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this one. It...there's no actual words to describe it. I bought this book because it was comped to Daisy Jones & The Six, which is actually such a bad comp, they are absolutely nothing alike but whatever. Least to say, I wasn't really expecting what I actually got from this book, but oh my I'm so happy I got to read this. It's set in the 70s so already bonus points.
The author managed to write people in such a raw and real way that felt like I was in the Cones house. Mary Jane lives in a very conservative Christian family and her job to babysit over the summer is with a very "hippie" loose Jewish family. They are NOTHING like her family and she's shocked to see people, let alone grown adults, act the way they do. Also at the Cones house over the summer was a rock and roll star and his wife whose undergoing therapy from Dr. Cone. The story follows their summer through the absurd ups and down and just shows humanity in such a beautiful, awful, real way. I felt such a profound connection to the characters and to their lives. Just wow.
rachelh_101's review against another edition
4.0
"Until I met Jimmy, I hadn't understood that people you loved could do things you didn't love. And, still, you could keep loving them."
This book explored people, and in the seventies which is even better. There are few books that I can say make me actually care about characters, but this was definitely one of them. There was great pleasure in experiencing the Cone's chaos with Mary Jane. I could have read three hundred more pages about Mary Jane's cooking and the joy that music had on this family. This book was a true delight.
Rating: 4.5/5
TW:
drug use
This book explored people, and in the seventies which is even better. There are few books that I can say make me actually care about characters, but this was definitely one of them. There was great pleasure in experiencing the Cone's chaos with Mary Jane. I could have read three hundred more pages about Mary Jane's cooking and the joy that music had on this family. This book was a true delight.
Rating: 4.5/5
TW:
drug use
vinylbookgirl's review
5.0
This is hands down my favorite book of 2021 so far! As soon as I picked it up I fell in love with Mary Jane and I just couldn't put it down!