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jourdanicus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don't remember where I heard this book recommended but I know I kept pushing back my library hold for it, and I'm glad I finally listened to it. So good!
I love a story told from the first person perspective of a woman main character, so that immediately put this book up my alley. Topics of abortion, feminism, friendship, complicated love are all catnip to me too.
The primary plot twist was so perfectly timed. I was so invested in the outcomes for the characters the entire time.
Just a perfect book for me personally, and my first 5⭐ read of 2024.
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Death of parent
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Blood, Vomit, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Homophobia, and Death of parent
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The jokes weren't funny, I took the money
My friends from home don't know what to say
I looked around in a blood-soaked gown
And I saw something they can't take away
'Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned
Everything you lose is a step you take
So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it
You've got no reason to be afraid
[…]
You're on your own, kid
You always have been
i'm not sure if i didn't like the ending or if i just didn't want it to end.
i'm also conflicted on the narrative structure of being told through memory with reflections and commentary peppered in. it obviously allows for deeper, more mature insight, as well as effective foreshadowing, but oftentimes it was along the lines of "i was so stupid then" which like, show don't tell, and we're definitely sufficiently shown. which i don't think is a bad thing! but i know for others it is, and so this setup feels like a concession to the crowd that can't stand, for example, Sally Rooney novels because her twenty-something young women characters are annoying or self-involved or clueless (for example, from a review of Conversations with Friends: "One of the most pretentious and self absorbed gen-z/millenial 'I am a suffering artist who is better than anyone else' main characters. Something about the damaged female writer character that is really trying my patience these days"). i am a strong advocate for allowing women characters to be annoying and self-involved and clueless. that's not to say you have to enjoy reading about them, but i don't like media catered to people who believe otherwise; just count them out of your intended audience. so the narration winds up feeling to me like a lampshading cop-out.
big thought out of the way, yeah i loved this, a truly funny in-depth character study showing significant growth and change. i fell in love with Rachel and James (Devlin; Carey is fine). storygraph was spot-on with this recommendation, thanks babe <3
miscellaneous: i was happy to see Rachel become friends with other women by the end. being surrounded almost exclusively by men for that long cannot be good for one's mental health
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Excrement, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
mothie_girlie's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Vomit, and Abortion
okahli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Abortion