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joanna_banana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Car accident, Abortion, and Pregnancy
ariannalane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction and Abortion
Minor: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I just loved seeing Vivian come into her own and her found family. Vivian was honestly so iconic and funny. The commentary on women and sexuality was also done well in my opinion. Honestly the plot doesn’t happen I feel like till 200 pages, but I didn’t mind because I was so invested in the characters.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism
karyan1'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Moderate: Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Car accident
leonormsousa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- I devoured and loved this book!
- It's super addicting, which I wasn't expecting from historical fiction.
- Love the topic of women's liberation as well as the ones that are "left behind" during war.
- It does non-likeable-main-character perfectly.
- A bit slow at first but definitely picks up after the first one-third.
- Felt like the romance at the end was unnecessary and would have preferred it if it wasn't a part of the book. However, considering that is there, wouldn't have done it a different way.
READ IF YOU ENJOY
- non likeable and flawed main characters
- self-aware narrator
- New York as a setting
- glamour, theatre and fashion
- women in a liberation and self-discovery journey
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
PTSDm4rtt4'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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Sexual content, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia and Antisemitism
naiu_cs's review against another edition
- 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
The writing was great, and the characters were amazing. And although there were parts of the book that bored me and made me roll my eyes, it is outweighed by the moments that really touched me and made me reflect on how I am living my own life.
A very good book indeed.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death, Rape, Vomit, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
erinnz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism
laurenw's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Terminal illness, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury
witmol's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first two-thirds of the book therefore feel over-indulgent as Viv reminisces about her youth. Gilbert makes certain that all the threads of this pre-WWII segment do actually connect with the character in question, entertainingly so, but in some regards it's easy to lose the facade of a letter in its lengthy diversions. This is not to say the novel lags. It canters along with Gilbert delivering vivid prose, and a distinct sense of place. While we don't get to 'see' much of New York through descriptions, we 'feel' it through a young Vivian instead.
When we do get to Viv meeting Angela's father, by comparison it feels anti-climactic. Viv has already described other characters in such great detail and with some effervescence that this character, while well drawn, feels distant and ancillary rather than central to her life. In short, the narrative here feels as if Viv is trying to convince us (and Angela) that her father was one of the most important figures in her life. It's the 'trying to convince' part that grates especially, particularly as the denouement does have a deep and abiding message about the nature of friendship and the value of being with someone and accepting the truth of each other without judgement.
Gilbert's expert handling of plot and pace, together with her witty writing, however, do make this a worthwhile read, and I'm more than pleased that she continues to write interesting female characters who do not need a partner to make them interesting.
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War