Reviews with content warning for Fatphobia - Eleanor & Park

Even though I really didn’t like how the book ended, there was no other way it could’ve ended, I don’t think. I felt endlessly sorry for Eleanor. She was so relatable and so misunderstood and for Park to be taken from her when he was the only one who truly saw her was so unjust. This book highlights all the ways life is so unfair, especially to kids growing up in situations of poverty. It’s a story of young love, growing up, and overcoming social norms.

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jordan_noel's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This is a sweet story of friendship between two sort of outsiders.

The transition from hate to love between the two characters felt kind of sudden, but their friendship was so sweet and pure that I think it makes up for it.

Maybe it's just me, but many parts felt overly, almost sickly sentimental. I felt a lot of dialogue and description of their romantic endeavors was a bit excessive. Still, it was a sweet relationship and I can get over these little flaws.

I have very mixed feelings about the ending.

Spoiler

The characters separate and lose touch, which of course, is normal and fine, but Eleanor began to start acting completely out of character right before this point. She was distant and rude and failed to reach out even with Park's persistent letters. Then at the end, she sends him three words (unknown to us) that somehow make him smile. I don't understand why Park would forgive her after almost a full year of her denying contact.

I think the relationship was a chance for Eleanor to appreciate herself more, learn and grow, and become independent. And for Park, it was his first, perhaps naïve, experience in love. I do like the complexity in their different interpretations of the relationship.

These characters were likable and the end was fairly realistic. Overall, this is a sweet, hopeful book, especially for teenagers who know just how brutal high school and adolescent life can be.

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stirnbandpunk's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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bluejeepbaby's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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ermt520's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-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

1.25

The book had potential but I could have done without the bad attempts at discussing race (Eleanor’s POC friends talking in a way that a white author obviously thinks they’d talk, the audiobook authors doing an Asian accent for his mom, the description of his mom as a china doll). The storyline about being in an abusive household was the most compelling and the book would have been better if this Midwestern white woman author didn’t try to explore race relations when she knows nothing and it comes across super cringey and racist.

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