black_flamed_candle_b00ks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I’m not a fan.
Only gave it two stars because I like the front cover, so technically a 1 ⭐️
Only gave it two stars because I like the front cover, so technically a 1 ⭐️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
lidia710's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
insightful but repetitive.
classism and race discussion were the highlights for me.
big TWs for infidelity & domestic abuse (physical, emotional, verbal) from the abuser's POV.
while reading about the fucked up relationships the narrator has, i recognized bpd patterns/ tendencies.
overall, i thought i would enjoy it more than i have. too often it felt like a chore to read through.
classism and race discussion were the highlights for me.
big TWs for infidelity & domestic abuse (physical, emotional, verbal) from the abuser's POV.
while reading about the fucked up relationships the narrator has, i recognized bpd patterns/ tendencies.
overall, i thought i would enjoy it more than i have. too often it felt like a chore to read through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Classism, Misogyny, and Racism
dafni's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Colonisation
rosalind's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Cursing and Emotional abuse
Minor: Racism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Body shaming, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
t_rex_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
the writing in this book is so gorgeous it makes me want to cry. the words she uses to describe and annotate things with are undeniably the most uncommon yet beautiful words I've ever read! love love love this book!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism and Stalking
lovelylilelle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Colonisation, Sexism, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
sophsg88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Cultural appropriation, Stalking, and Racism
kers_tin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Stalking, and Infidelity
Moderate: Classism, Racism, and Domestic abuse
ramalam98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a book of two halves for me.
On one hand I really liked the format and narration, with the monologue of a thirty-something woman of colour who is obsessed with an older married man she is having a mostly one-sided affair with, as well as being obsessed with the younger, white instagram influencer who the man is having an affair with. She is pathetic and self-destructive yet also apparently very self-aware. The (very short) chapters are a mix of plot/backstory, and mini essays on society, class, race, and misogyny.
It falls down for me though when it comes to the actual substance of the book. The critiques on influencer culture bordered a bit too much on internalised misogyny for my liking, and the thoughts on other issues did feel very surface level. Essentially, not nearly as deep or original as I would expect from a Women’s Prize nominee.
I just think it could have done more with this, especially when it comes to cognitive dissonance, for example the main character continuing to beg for this man while also knowing she was being strung along and racially fetishised.
On one hand I really liked the format and narration, with the monologue of a thirty-something woman of colour who is obsessed with an older married man she is having a mostly one-sided affair with, as well as being obsessed with the younger, white instagram influencer who the man is having an affair with. She is pathetic and self-destructive yet also apparently very self-aware. The (very short) chapters are a mix of plot/backstory, and mini essays on society, class, race, and misogyny.
It falls down for me though when it comes to the actual substance of the book. The critiques on influencer culture bordered a bit too much on internalised misogyny for my liking, and the thoughts on other issues did feel very surface level. Essentially, not nearly as deep or original as I would expect from a Women’s Prize nominee.
I just think it could have done more with this, especially when it comes to cognitive dissonance, for example the main character continuing to beg for this man while also knowing she was being strung along and racially fetishised.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
Minor: Stalking
emilyrowanstudio's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
4.75 rounded up - This is a fantastic book and I would love to see it win the Women's Prize (although I don't think it will).
I love books like this. So 2023, so modern, so political, so about social media and internet culture.
I'm a Fan is told in short chapters, many less than a page long. Some are first person narratives where our protagonist loses herself in The Man I Want To Be With and The Woman I Am Obsessed With, some are essays about race, womanhood, manhood, art, and some are a mixture of both.
I can see why this such a marmite book. If you're not a lover of the internet, or intrigued by fame and influencer culture, or fascinated by the way we can so easily be found and traced online, then you won't "get" this. It as an acquired 21st century taste. The protagonist, and three of the other main characters, are never named. They are all horrible and unlikeable people. The impersonality with the lack of names combined with the spewing of dark thoughs and deep desires, the conscious and unconscious will to destroy themselves, the sinister traits of their character - there is much here reminiscent of the MCs in Eliza Clark's Boy Parts and Otessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest in Relaxation, but I'm A Fan is smarter than them both. The social and political commentary interspersed with the non-linear plotless prose is expertly done.
I'm A Fan is so of the moment yet so one of a kind. This is a near perfect book. I can't wait to see what Sheena Patel does next.
[To add - and this has nothing to do with the book itself and only the reception it has received - I didn't find I'm A Fan as dark as I expected. Unhinged, certainly. The actions of the protagonist make you wince at times, but to be labelled 'dark' I was expecting something more explicitly sinister to happen].
I love books like this. So 2023, so modern, so political, so about social media and internet culture.
I'm a Fan is told in short chapters, many less than a page long. Some are first person narratives where our protagonist loses herself in The Man I Want To Be With and The Woman I Am Obsessed With, some are essays about race, womanhood, manhood, art, and some are a mixture of both.
I can see why this such a marmite book. If you're not a lover of the internet, or intrigued by fame and influencer culture, or fascinated by the way we can so easily be found and traced online, then you won't "get" this. It as an acquired 21st century taste. The protagonist, and three of the other main characters, are never named. They are all horrible and unlikeable people. The impersonality with the lack of names combined with the spewing of dark thoughs and deep desires, the conscious and unconscious will to destroy themselves, the sinister traits of their character - there is much here reminiscent of the MCs in Eliza Clark's Boy Parts and Otessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest in Relaxation, but I'm A Fan is smarter than them both. The social and political commentary interspersed with the non-linear plotless prose is expertly done.
I'm A Fan is so of the moment yet so one of a kind. This is a near perfect book. I can't wait to see what Sheena Patel does next.
[To add - and this has nothing to do with the book itself and only the reception it has received - I didn't find I'm A Fan as dark as I expected. Unhinged, certainly. The actions of the protagonist make you wince at times, but to be labelled 'dark' I was expecting something more explicitly sinister to happen].
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Classism, Colonisation, and Gaslighting