givemaribooks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was really hoping I would like this book because so far this series has really disappointed me. It is not as bad as book 2, but I had a lot of issues with this book. I like the first half of the book, when Tiel and Sam when beginning their friendship and getting to know each other. Tiel was so warm and brought out the best in Sam, but that all felt apart in the second half. Only reason I am giving this book 2.5 stars is because I actual like the writing and I think there was potential in this book.
I understand why Tiel was scared of families, but it just did not make sense for her to be such a bitch to random people she just met. I also disliked how she automatically hated every woman she met through Sam because she thought they had hooked up with Sam. It just came off as so misogynistic for her to hate the women for assuming they had hooked up with a men she was not dating then. Speaking of misogynistic, I also understand why Sam was the way he was. It was clear that his childhood trauma manifested in his inability to form connections with women and his low self-esteem, BUT they way he spoke about women and how he treated woman was extremely misogynistic. He was supposed to be punishing and mistreating himself, but instead he was treating woman as objects and talking about them as objects and not people. I wish his "manwhore" ways had been more about him sleeping around and using sex to cover his issues, instead of him treating women the way he did. It felt like lazy writing in my opinion. He could have been a much more nuanced character without making him a misogynistic asshole.
I am also very confused by the last third of the book. Tiel freaked out, ended the relationship, then admitted to herself and her friend that she overreacted and said horrible things to Sam, but she still did not go to him to apologize and made him be the one to grovel. She more than anyone knew how fragile he actually was and how much hurt he was hiding, and she said the exact things he thought about himself that would hurt him the most, but she never actually takes responsibility for it. I get that she feared he would be unfaithful due to her past and his, but he was never in a committed relationship before so he was never actually a cheater. I judge Sam because of the way he spoke and treated women, not because of he had a lot of sex, but Tiel judge him for the sex, which came off as slut-sham-y. I also feel like her relationship with her family was left unresolved.
I know a lot of other reviewers were upset about the "cheating," but I don't think it was cheating since they had broken up and the man was a mess at the time. He needed help, and the fact that his family waited so long to step in made no sense considering how involved they were in his life up to that point. The whole family is a mess, understandably, but they all ended up being unlikeable assholes to everyone, including each other and themselves. So I think I am done with this series. I just don't think it is for me, and I own a lot of books from this author that now I am afraid to read if they are going to be like this series. I had such high hopes considering that The Worst Guy is one of my favorite books ever.
CW: child abuse, death of parent due to pregnancy complications (recounted), diabetes complications, hospital stay
I understand why Tiel was scared of families, but it just did not make sense for her to be such a bitch to random people she just met. I also disliked how she automatically hated every woman she met through Sam because she thought they had hooked up with Sam. It just came off as so misogynistic for her to hate the women for assuming they had hooked up with a men she was not dating then. Speaking of misogynistic, I also understand why Sam was the way he was. It was clear that his childhood trauma manifested in his inability to form connections with women and his low self-esteem, BUT they way he spoke about women and how he treated woman was extremely misogynistic. He was supposed to be punishing and mistreating himself, but instead he was treating woman as objects and talking about them as objects and not people. I wish his "manwhore" ways had been more about him sleeping around and using sex to cover his issues, instead of him treating women the way he did. It felt like lazy writing in my opinion. He could have been a much more nuanced character without making him a misogynistic asshole.
I am also very confused by the last third of the book. Tiel freaked out, ended the relationship, then admitted to herself and her friend that she overreacted and said horrible things to Sam, but she still did not go to him to apologize and made him be the one to grovel. She more than anyone knew how fragile he actually was and how much hurt he was hiding, and she said the exact things he thought about himself that would hurt him the most, but she never actually takes responsibility for it. I get that she feared he would be unfaithful due to her past and his, but he was never in a committed relationship before so he was never actually a cheater. I judge Sam because of the way he spoke and treated women, not because of he had a lot of sex, but Tiel judge him for the sex, which came off as slut-sham-y. I also feel like her relationship with her family was left unresolved.
I know a lot of other reviewers were upset about the "cheating," but I don't think it was cheating since they had broken up and the man was a mess at the time. He needed help, and the fact that his family waited so long to step in made no sense considering how involved they were in his life up to that point. The whole family is a mess, understandably, but they all ended up being unlikeable assholes to everyone, including each other and themselves. So I think I am done with this series. I just don't think it is for me, and I own a lot of books from this author that now I am afraid to read if they are going to be like this series. I had such high hopes considering that The Worst Guy is one of my favorite books ever.
CW: child abuse, death of parent due to pregnancy complications (recounted), diabetes complications, hospital stay
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
theshrinkette's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Vomit, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical trauma
More...