halsteady's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexual assault
annakillilea's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Lots of potential and a good representation of mental illness amongst existential dread. Way too much ED content and body shaming to enjoy the excellent writing though :/ Sophie’s resolution was too rushed to be compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual assault
ysabelle_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It’s nice to read a book written by someone who actually seems to use social media and shows our “chronically online” behaviours and our “better than you” feeling when we decide to remove the apps (only to return).
While I don’t think I’ll read it again, I did like the book up to a certain point. I could relate to the main character’s feelings: the one of feeling like everyone secretly doesn’t like you, feeling like you’re not living how you want but how someone else wants and being confronted to the current job market.
The fact that Sophie technically doesn’t speak - we only hear her thoughts in response to people talking - is an interesting stylistic choice though became a little tiring because we never hear her voice. We just hear the self deprecating and miserable monologue that goes on in her head 24/7. I say this despite relating to it at certain points as I feel like I’m too much in my head during social events instead of interacting with people directly.
While I don’t think I’ll read it again, I did like the book up to a certain point. I could relate to the main character’s feelings: the one of feeling like everyone secretly doesn’t like you, feeling like you’re not living how you want but how someone else wants and being confronted to the current job market.
The fact that Sophie technically doesn’t speak - we only hear her thoughts in response to people talking - is an interesting stylistic choice though became a little tiring because we never hear her voice. We just hear the self deprecating and miserable monologue that goes on in her head 24/7. I say this despite relating to it at certain points as I feel like I’m too much in my head during social events instead of interacting with people directly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was in two minds about picking this up after seeing it being compared to Normal People & Snowflake. I'm not a Sally Rooney (Prasifka’s sister-in-law by the way) fan in any form so was going to avoid it but then Snowflake was one of my top reads of 2021. So when I saw it as an audiobook I said what have I got to lose?
I was a bit too optimistic because while there was some really good interesting lines which really caught my attention, overall the majority of the time I was left rolling my eyes, clinging to the hope that this is not what your average 20something Trinity graduates are actually like.
So for some balance;
What I Liked?
• The portrayal of the consuming & suffocating nature of social media was terrifyingly accurate. Prasifka spoke about closing out of Instagram after scrolling for hours & your thumb automatically reaching back for the app & I was shook, I do that, all of the damn time!
• Observations about the role of the Catholic Church are extremely well executed & so relevant at the moment considering the NMH crisis.
• The crack & it's varied impact on people was really well done. Especially post-covid after seeing people going from panic buying hysteria to almost forgetting it exists.
• There are many beautiful quotes which stand out as poignant commentary on society which would make me want to come back to Prasifka's writing at another time of her life.
What I Didn't Like?
• The book reeks of upper-class white cis-gender female privilege & it isn't a pretty smell.
• Flippant references to things such as the famine come across as distasteful & quite irrelevant.
• The book tries to be feminist forward yet in total contradiction has the protagonist crawling after guys who are horrifically & quite obviously manipulative.
• The injustice of portraying females as these whiney, insecure naval gazing beings who can't function properly without male attention (negative or positive).
Overall, it's an interesting book which some will absolutely devour & completely identify with but for me it just missed the mark. Insightful & poignant at times yet also repetitive & draining.
If you've read it let me know your thoughts!
I was a bit too optimistic because while there was some really good interesting lines which really caught my attention, overall the majority of the time I was left rolling my eyes, clinging to the hope that this is not what your average 20something Trinity graduates are actually like.
So for some balance;
What I Liked?
• The portrayal of the consuming & suffocating nature of social media was terrifyingly accurate. Prasifka spoke about closing out of Instagram after scrolling for hours & your thumb automatically reaching back for the app & I was shook, I do that, all of the damn time!
• Observations about the role of the Catholic Church are extremely well executed & so relevant at the moment considering the NMH crisis.
• The crack & it's varied impact on people was really well done. Especially post-covid after seeing people going from panic buying hysteria to almost forgetting it exists.
• There are many beautiful quotes which stand out as poignant commentary on society which would make me want to come back to Prasifka's writing at another time of her life.
What I Didn't Like?
• The book reeks of upper-class white cis-gender female privilege & it isn't a pretty smell.
• Flippant references to things such as the famine come across as distasteful & quite irrelevant.
• The book tries to be feminist forward yet in total contradiction has the protagonist crawling after guys who are horrifically & quite obviously manipulative.
• The injustice of portraying females as these whiney, insecure naval gazing beings who can't function properly without male attention (negative or positive).
Overall, it's an interesting book which some will absolutely devour & completely identify with but for me it just missed the mark. Insightful & poignant at times yet also repetitive & draining.
If you've read it let me know your thoughts!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexism, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sophie has just finished college and is unsure of what she wants to do next. She views her friends with jealousy as they confidently navigate life and feels that she is being left behind. She's been in love with her friend Finn for years, and faces a dilemma when she meets Rory online. As a crack appears in the sky, Sophie is left questioning everything about life and her future.
“I refresh the feed every minute and continue to consume, growing fat. I’m like a vampire, leeching off the content of other people’s lives. I’m not even really interested in anything I’m reading.”
This was a very intriguing book that delved into peoples' relationship with social media. I honestly felt that I needed to delete all apps off my phone after reading this. Sophie is completely dependent on her phone and having access to the internet. Scouring and refreshing apps to learn the most up to date opinions or to see what her friends are doing. Her appetite for information stems for her own lack of self esteem and insecurity and hopes that it will make her seem interesting or intelligent in social situations.
The book also discusses the difficulties that this generation will face. The crack in the sky could be caused by environmental change, and shows the reaction towards our dying planet with either hyperawareness or indifference. The book also portrays the financial struggles of this generation with Sophie struggling to find a job and dealing with anxiety of whether she will ever manage to afford a house. The misogyny, violence, and abuse that Sophie suffers not only online but in real life is harrowing. Prasifka highlights how victims of abuse can be gaslighted and undermined, and in the end doubt themselves. Sophie's experience is one that unfortunately too many people have gone through and yet it still perpetuates our society.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
“I refresh the feed every minute and continue to consume, growing fat. I’m like a vampire, leeching off the content of other people’s lives. I’m not even really interested in anything I’m reading.”
This was a very intriguing book that delved into peoples' relationship with social media. I honestly felt that I needed to delete all apps off my phone after reading this. Sophie is completely dependent on her phone and having access to the internet. Scouring and refreshing apps to learn the most up to date opinions or to see what her friends are doing. Her appetite for information stems for her own lack of self esteem and insecurity and hopes that it will make her seem interesting or intelligent in social situations.
The book also discusses the difficulties that this generation will face. The crack in the sky could be caused by environmental change, and shows the reaction towards our dying planet with either hyperawareness or indifference. The book also portrays the financial struggles of this generation with Sophie struggling to find a job and dealing with anxiety of whether she will ever manage to afford a house. The misogyny, violence, and abuse that Sophie suffers not only online but in real life is harrowing. Prasifka highlights how victims of abuse can be gaslighted and undermined, and in the end doubt themselves. Sophie's experience is one that unfortunately too many people have gone through and yet it still perpetuates our society.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion
thelibraryofalexandra's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
frantear's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
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