notlikethebeer's review against another edition
2.0
I honestly absolutely didn't hate this book, I'm just not really sure it added anything to the world? It was a fun read, but it was just... pretentious privileged guy gets bored with his perfectly nice girlfriend and treats her like shit in order to make himself feel good. Same old.
jolles's review against another edition
4.0
Man this book was a trip. I felt simultaneously too old and too young to be reading it, and the characterization of Peter, Leslie, and Julia just reinforced this sentiment. What I liked about this book was it's breeziness, Martin can turn a phrase pretty deftly, and his ability to write characters that are somehow people you know and people you hate while also being people you love is such a real, real feel. Ultimately, there's not much at stake in book, it's relatively plotless in terms of constructing a story that isn't as simple as romance gone very stereotypically awry, but I was hooked from beginning to end, which probably says a lot more about me than the novel itself.
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
On paper, I should have hated this book: disaffected male protagonist who thinks the grass is greener when he meets an intriguing woman. And yet, it is a testament to Martin's style that I actually enjoyed the tone of this book. I will say that Martin people his book with characters that were adept at sassy banter, so much so that you wondered if Peter had any conversations that were not laden with sarcasm and innuendo. I mean, I love a clever rejoinder, but some of my interaction with the world requires plainspoken communication once in awhile.
Even so, I didn't hate Peter--which from this feminist is saying A LOT--and I cared what happened to him, even if he was asking for it from page 1.
Recommended for people who like relationship novels and don't disaffection, ennui, and casual privilege in their protagonists.
Even so, I didn't hate Peter--which from this feminist is saying A LOT--and I cared what happened to him, even if he was asking for it from page 1.
Recommended for people who like relationship novels and don't disaffection, ennui, and casual privilege in their protagonists.
pablopicostco's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-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
TW: A book by w white man that feels like a white man trying to be ~progressive~ which is inherently not progressive at all. Lots of male gaze, some micro aggressive racial comments (trying to be like ya I’m comfortable around black people but clearly anyone who has to say that is not vibes).
mattgjohnson's review against another edition
funny
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Boy Sally Rooney I tell ya
chantelmccray's review against another edition
3.0
Here is a book about some Millennials who find themselves too intelligent and clever to actually enjoy anything. The protagonist wants to be writer, but despite his privileged education, spends all his time drinking, smoking pot, making terrible, boring decisions and then wondering why he’s so miserable and unproductive. I was kind of into all the self-inflicted drama in the beginning, and there was some interesting name dropping of books that the characters never quite finished reading, but my the last third of the book was too bored to care what happened to any of these people. However, it was well written and made me fell like I have my life together, so.... 3 stars?
skinnerbx's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tscott907's review against another edition
3.0
A slightly overwrought “look at us being sad and snippy with each other” read. Usually one of my favorite genres, but this fell short somewhere. Still, there are some pretty sentences and I exhale-laughed knowingly at some dialogue, so it wasn’t a total loss…
I wish the entire thing was about Leslie!
I wish the entire thing was about Leslie!
hannarosebrown's review against another edition
4.0
undesirable, pretentious characters and infidelity are balanced with insightful, somehow relatable prose to make this novel captivating to read as a twenty-something.