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fictionalsarah's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol
georgie_mb's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is almost like a John Green book, but for those in their 20’s a 2023 world.
A lot of hard relating went on in this, from navigating friendships, dating (or not), to affording a house and getting well paid jobs. I also found it really interesting that Prasifka highlighted how a lot of our generation turn to social media and drink as a form of escapism as well as that some find it easier to navigate the online world than the real one.
This was all wrapped up with a bit of dystopia too, which stopped this from becoming too hard hitting to read, allowing for a bit of escapism (but I could honestly imagine this happening in our real world too).
A lot of hard relating went on in this, from navigating friendships, dating (or not), to affording a house and getting well paid jobs. I also found it really interesting that Prasifka highlighted how a lot of our generation turn to social media and drink as a form of escapism as well as that some find it easier to navigate the online world than the real one.
This was all wrapped up with a bit of dystopia too, which stopped this from becoming too hard hitting to read, allowing for a bit of escapism (but I could honestly imagine this happening in our real world too).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
luce98's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have never resonated with a character like I did with Sophie. I recommend this read to every femme in their 20s. It made me feel that it's okay I don't have it all figured out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming and Sexual harassment
Minor: Mental illness and Toxic friendship
rossandhissandwich's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this book becauseof the intriguing title and the pretty cover, I didn't read what it was about, but I think that if I read it I probably wouldn't have bought it, and don't get me wrong, I liked this book, but it's not the kind I usually read (doesen't mean I hate it), and I thought that her writing style was really similar to Ottessa Moshfegh, which is quite good in my opinion.
Good, waiting for you to be great
Good, waiting for you to be great
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Vomit
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Alcohol
keira_cf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Vomit, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming and Eating disorder
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion
e_m_f_reads's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
kaytrain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Vomit, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
susanlanigan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol
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: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism