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gvstyris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
It is an old story. One of the oldest. They would not have had to travel so far just to learn it: lust - open, naked lust - must be named and punished. How else can we hope to keep the world in order?
There are a couple reasons this novel wasn't for me.
Primarily, the age-gap. Anne, a 28 year-old teacher's assistant, and Flannery, a 17 year-old college freshman, are at completely different life stages. Their relationship has an uncomfortable and inherent power imbalance reminiscent of Elio/Oliver from Call Me By Your Name. Both stories suffer from their refusal to acknowledge how fundamentally predatory and unhealthy these relationships are, making the older characters (Anne and Oliver) unlikeable and the main plot difficult to root for. I find this 'trope' especially off-putting in LGBT+ romances, given how the community is still hindered by stereotypes of pedophilia and grooming.
On another note, because Brownrigg spoils the novel's ending in the prologue, its plot trajectory is relatively predictable and under-developed. While this is partially a consequence of reading a 2001 novel with 2024 cliches in mind, I would still argue that Brownrigg fails to effectively utilise the spoiler to add depth or surprise. It was just kind of lackluster.
I also wish Brownrigg had properly explored Flannery grappling with her sexuality. As tiresome as it often is to read about queer characters unpacking their internalised homophobia, I was more put-off by how Brownrigg teased Flannery's shame without really considering it. That being said, I did like how Flannery was largely unconcerned with labelling herself. She liked Anne, and that's as far as she was willing to get with it -- for the moment, anyways.
I've given Pages for You two redeeming stars for its unique structure and use of narration. The prologue is also beautifully written, and I was shocked by how specific bits and pieces of Flannery/Anne's queer experience hold true in 2024. I imagine that this book will mean a lot to some people -- it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual content
blschuldt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I will say overall I enjoyed reading this book. However, I did have to age Flannery up to 18 in my head to stomach it—I don’t understand why her being legally underage was important, and it just tainted their entire relationship for me. A sad and somewhat predictable end. Despite all this, I really like Brownrigg’s writing style and loved Flannery as a character. I really disliked Anne throughout, but I plan to read the sequel as I’m so curious what will happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Toxic relationship
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