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emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i stand by what i said when i initially went to DNF this book
i really wanted to like this book, but it’s very slow paced and i’m having a hard time connecting to the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Despite some… unforgivable… lines ([Nina (the MC) in a jealous rant to herself about Gina, a woman Ari (the LI) ate dinner with:] “-and how much better she probably was at giving people orgasms, I’d presume. Her name made up half of vagina, after all, did that give her an edge?” — I cringe even thinking about this line.), I did in fact finish this book.
Unfortunately, I don’t have much in kind words for this book (which btw is never an attack on the author, because clearly the majority of readers disagree with me and loved this book; hence the 900 4+ star reviews before mine.). The premise was great, and that is what kept me going here.
I have to agree with some of the reviews I’ve seen about Nina’s characterization. She is just another character who frustratingly lacks any self- or social-awareness. At the beginning of the story we are told about Nina’s ex of 3 years, Taylor. Taylor implies that Nina is not there for her friends, we are told that she is wrong, and then Nina literally proves it by ghosting all of them right after her and Taylors breakup. We’re told this is because Nina is scared they’ll have chosen Taylor or that she'll end up hurting them because of what Taylor said, which just showcases her inability to just communicate. It also brings her friends into question, as it didn’t seem like they really even tried to find her again afterward. Hell a rumor was started that she died and no one even tried to reach out to her aunt or look into it any further. And then, because doing it once wasn’t enough – SHE DOES IT AGAIN. (Granted, this time was ‘only’ for 3 weeks…) One thing I think the author did excellently, however, is put Nina in therapy rather than just having the character flaws resolve themselves once she was in a more secure relationship.
As for the writing, the best I can describe it as is Buzzfeed - which is fine, of course, if you like/relate to that kind of writing. I don’t. I found a lot of the “funny”(?) lines to be like the one I brought up earlier in this review, which was almost a dealbreaker for me. It was also quite repetitive throughout, mentioning the same thoughts over and over and over again throughout the chapters.
I really do think this book will be enjoyable for so many people, despite my opinions on it. The last two chapters were extremely sweet, and there were a lot of fun moments. It just missed the mark for me.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
“And if I’m not giving fucks, who will?”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Car accident, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this eARC.
I enjoyed this book but it was a little bit of a struggle to come back to it. It took me a few chapters to warm up to Nina, but there was just something about Ari that I just didn’t love and I can’t figure out what. Maybe it was just her vibe?
I loved the found family aspect and enjoyed Nina’s relationships with her friend group.
Didn’t really love Lorna and all of that part of the story. Even though they made a point about visiting her not being a “chore”, that’s how it came across to me. Seeing your only family member, that lives so close by, only once a week seems like chore to me. Nina works from home. She could go see Lorna any day of the week. She literally had nothing else going on.
If I lived close to my family, I’d see them more. And not just on a day that had been planned out. I’d see them when I felt like it. Especially if they were older and maybe not going to be around much longer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship