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lilybear3's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This book is a modern-day YA retelling of Anna Karenina. I haven't read the original, but I feel like Jenny Lee included important and pivotal moments in her version and adapted them. Leo Tolstoy's novel is 800+ pages and Anna K is 400ish pages. I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Glee's Jenna Ushkowitz. I couldn't have picked a better narrator, I think she was great and consistent throughout the novel. She gave some characters different voices, but it didn't sound strained or like she was trying too hard.
The story is truly Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl in the best way. While this is a longer book than I normally read, I was interested the whole time and was captivated by what would happen next. It's the kind of fluffy romance that I love, full of over-the-top romance. There's Drama with a capital D! I love that we follow a large cast of characters with their own love stories and how they intertwine with one another. There are many pop culture references and has all the things young adults are dealing with (even if most aren't super rich). There are lots of CW/TWs so be sure to look at those! The bulk of them are related to alcohol, drugs, and sex.
I have a print copy and my version has discussion questions in the back! How fun! One of the first questions in the back of the print version is about how race plays a part in the book. I must have missed it, because I only knew Anna K's family was Korean. It was mentioned about halfway through that Dustin is Black and adopted. I presume the rest of the characters are white but I'm not sure. It think there are conversations that could be had speculating. But I think the book could've explored this question further and overtly.
I definitely recommend this book if you want a rich people drama-filled story. But there's also wholesome romance! It's over-the-top at times, but that's what I love.
Thoughts on certain parts of the book, a.k.a. many spoilers:
Throughout the book, I felt misogyny was upheld, even though the three main teens grew as characters. Like the characters see that women and teenage girls are held to a higher and double standard in their rich people world, but there isn't action taken to make it better. It ends up being upheld by the rest of their society (Bea for example). Anna and Steven's dad (and other parents) were the worst. Towards the end I was very upset because everyone blamed Anna for what happened instead of seeing her as the victim. Then, even though he apologizes, her dad still makes Anna live abroad for a "fresh start" (plot for book 2). Eleanor is written like she is autistic but it's never explicitly stated. She is made fun of for her OCD in having things clean and having things go a certain way. Vronsky also mentions that she doesn't get sarcasm. I didn't love that she was the "villain" and hated by most. Especially that she was the one who filmed/released the sex tape. But maybe the Eleanor character in Anna Karenina was also the "villain." The ending was a little ridiculous for me when they were trying to save the dog on the tracks AGAIN. It was just Anna INSISTING that they could save the dog and Vronsky DIES. That whole scuffle was a mess. But in Anna Karenina, Anna dies, so I was waiting for that ending.
The story is truly Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl in the best way. While this is a longer book than I normally read, I was interested the whole time and was captivated by what would happen next. It's the kind of fluffy romance that I love, full of over-the-top romance. There's Drama with a capital D! I love that we follow a large cast of characters with their own love stories and how they intertwine with one another. There are many pop culture references and has all the things young adults are dealing with (even if most aren't super rich). There are lots of CW/TWs so be sure to look at those! The bulk of them are related to alcohol, drugs, and sex.
I have a print copy and my version has discussion questions in the back! How fun! One of the first questions in the back of the print version is about how race plays a part in the book. I must have missed it, because I only knew Anna K's family was Korean. It was mentioned about halfway through that Dustin is Black and adopted. I presume the rest of the characters are white but I'm not sure. It think there are conversations that could be had speculating. But I think the book could've explored this question further and overtly.
I definitely recommend this book if you want a rich people drama-filled story. But there's also wholesome romance! It's over-the-top at times, but that's what I love.
Thoughts on certain parts of the book, a.k.a. many spoilers:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, and Classism
samchase112's review
dark
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Every happy teenage girl is the same, while every unhappy teenage girl is miserable in her own special way.
This was a solid read. If you're not familiar, this book is a retelling of Anna Karenina (the classic Russian epic) which takes place in the rich upper society of New York. And when I say retelling, I mean pretty much to the T. The plot is followed fairly religiously, the characters are just as unbearably terrible (but in a good way?), and very similar questions are explored. Seriously, the lifestyle these characters lead is pretty terrible to read about, because yes, their lives are insane and filled with extreme expectations and extreme downfalls, but at the same time every single one of them (besides Dustin/Levin and Kitty, the real mvps) takes their life and wealth for granted. I will say that I enjoyed Anna more here than in the original, probably because she was a teenager and thus more forgiven for her mistakes than, say, a grown woman with children who she neglects for a young hot Vronsky. There were some great twists to the story, especially at the end, and everything tied together well. When I think back to Anna Karenina, however, I will remember my experience with the original and likely forget about this (well done, perfectly fine) retelling.
This was a solid read. If you're not familiar, this book is a retelling of Anna Karenina (the classic Russian epic) which takes place in the rich upper society of New York. And when I say retelling, I mean pretty much to the T. The plot is followed fairly religiously, the characters are just as unbearably terrible (but in a good way?), and very similar questions are explored. Seriously, the lifestyle these characters lead is pretty terrible to read about, because yes, their lives are insane and filled with extreme expectations and extreme downfalls, but at the same time every single one of them (besides Dustin/Levin and Kitty, the real mvps) takes their life and wealth for granted. I will say that I enjoyed Anna more here than in the original, probably because she was a teenager and thus more forgiven for her mistakes than, say, a grown woman with children who she neglects for a young hot Vronsky. There were some great twists to the story, especially at the end, and everything tied together well. When I think back to Anna Karenina, however, I will remember my experience with the original and likely forget about this (well done, perfectly fine) retelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Stalking, and Car accident
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Antisemitism