lilybearillini3's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Someone on YouTube recommended this book and I had it on my TBR so long I forgot what it was about. The best way that I can describe this book is a slice-of-life that has a lot of quotable lines. If you are someone who needs a plot or a story arc, I wouldn't recommend. This book is just [good] vibes and I'm here for it.
Isa and Gala are interesting people and I found myself wanting to be their friend. Isa is wise and pursues a life of pleasure and luxury, despite not being rich. With a cast of also interesting supporting characters, Marlowe Granados shows us a fun, New York summer. I enjoyed her insight on life and would've highlighted so many quotes if I owned a copy (I checked out from the library). I love the line in the description: Happy Hour is about getting by and having fun in a system that wants you to do neither.
I enjoyed this book and I think it'll be a good one to buy, reread, and highlight.
Isa and Gala are interesting people and I found myself wanting to be their friend. Isa is wise and pursues a life of pleasure and luxury, despite not being rich. With a cast of also interesting supporting characters, Marlowe Granados shows us a fun, New York summer. I enjoyed her insight on life and would've highlighted so many quotes if I owned a copy (I checked out from the library). I love the line in the description: Happy Hour is about getting by and having fun in a system that wants you to do neither.
I enjoyed this book and I think it'll be a good one to buy, reread, and highlight.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
edamamebean's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
I loved this book so much, I think it might be my favorite of the year so far. I listened to the audiobook and I can’t recommend it enough. The narrator captures Isa’s voice so well, and she’s honestly hilarious. I don’t understand all the reviews saying this book had no plot because so much happens, maybe they just mean there isn’t a plot arc? Anyways, I truly didn’t want it to end; I just want Isa to talk to me about her life forever. I was devastated to learn that the author hasn’t published any other novels. It kind of felt like a Jane Austen novel if Jane Austen was a NYC party girl. I desperately need this to be an HBO series and I need Alexa Demie to play Isa.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deportation, Racism, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had strange feelings about this one. It did feel like Otessa Moshfegh, which wasn't my jam, so it makes sense that this one hit me a little weird too. I haven't quite pinpointed what I wasn't in love with about the writing, but I do admire that this kind of self-centered pleasure-seeking is being done by women (and women of color) characters and not white men. So maybe it's not my thing, but I'm glad that it's happening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Drug use, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Blood, Sexual content, Racism, and Infidelity
lidia710's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use and Grief
Minor: Sexism, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Cancer, Abortion, Vomit, Animal death, and Classism
kaii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Classism, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Drug use, Racism, and Xenophobia
savvylit's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.0
There are a lot of books about partying in New York City. However, none of them read quite like Happy Hour. Isa and Gala are on tourist visas. The two friends are so often broke because they can only seek under-the-table jobs that pay in cash. Their tourist status also gives a finite length to their NYC era since their visas are 6 months long. This lends Happy Hour a voyeuristic quality. As tourists, Isa and Gala are inevitably relegated to outsider status.
On the surface, Happy Hour is a book about two girls having (mostly) good times. Isa and Gala - but especially Isa - are incredibly charming and extroverted. They are the perfect duo for finding fun and mischief on nights out in NYC. As the novel progresses, though, there's a subtle thread of class consciousness and racial identity. Isa is a brown person of mixed race. Throughout Happy Hour, Isa faces many microaggressions that she notes with detachment or amusement depending on the occasion. Additionally, some of her wealthy acquaintances view her as less of a person and more of an amusement to keep around. That being said, Granados never outrightly moralizes in the pages of Happy Hour. Her criticism of the bourgeoisie is, however, easily inferred.
Ultimately, Happy Hour is a book about the power of connection and the strength of friendship. Isa's distinct voice is unlike any other narrator I've experienced. She's effortlessly cool and charming while still remaining real and complex. After doing some web sleuthing, it seems that Isa is strongly based on Granados herself. Please excuse me while I go read everything Marlowe Granados has ever written and try to absorb even just one iota of her wit and confidence.
On the surface, Happy Hour is a book about two girls having (mostly) good times. Isa and Gala - but especially Isa - are incredibly charming and extroverted. They are the perfect duo for finding fun and mischief on nights out in NYC. As the novel progresses, though, there's a subtle thread of class consciousness and racial identity. Isa is a brown person of mixed race. Throughout Happy Hour, Isa faces many microaggressions that she notes with detachment or amusement depending on the occasion. Additionally, some of her wealthy acquaintances view her as less of a person and more of an amusement to keep around. That being said, Granados never outrightly moralizes in the pages of Happy Hour. Her criticism of the bourgeoisie is, however, easily inferred.
Ultimately, Happy Hour is a book about the power of connection and the strength of friendship. Isa's distinct voice is unlike any other narrator I've experienced. She's effortlessly cool and charming while still remaining real and complex. After doing some web sleuthing, it seems that Isa is strongly based on Granados herself. Please excuse me while I go read everything Marlowe Granados has ever written and try to absorb even just one iota of her wit and confidence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Classism, and Alcohol
mlewis's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexism, Misogyny, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Blood, Cancer, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Cultural appropriation, War, Racism, and Drug use
samikoonjones's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
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