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shelbygibbs's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Miscarriage and Abortion
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Addiction, Biphobia, Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
thecaffeinatedlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Rachel herself is wry, delightfully nervous and full of relatable intrusive thoughts. I loved her relationship with James, and how it shows how vital friendship is. I adored their connection, how they were always there for one another, and their inside jokes and shared humour.
This book touches on a few very heavy, very important, topics also. I loved how the author wove these themes in organically, they never felt too sudden or too stilted.
I think my only *wish* is that I wanted more. Caroline achieves so much here, but I just wanted a little more insight into these wild things that seemed to happen around Rachel.
For fans of the unhinged girly litfic scene 💕
Graphic: Miscarriage and Abortion
Moderate: Vomit
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
thespinystacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Cursing, Miscarriage, and Vomit
gbevan'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
4.5
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Homophobia, Vomit, and Abortion
theunfinishedbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Terminal illness, Abortion, and Death of parent
marpaige's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit and Abortion
Minor: Infertility and Suicide
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
theflowergarden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Infidelity, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Blood and Vomit
marywahlmeierbracciano'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
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Infertility, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Chronic illness and Vomit