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brookejvg's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
An enjoyable light novel about a sort of found-family in small-town Michigan. Warm, witty, charming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
Early Morning Riser is a very quiet novel with lots of quirky yet warm-hearted small town vibes. There’s not a lot of plot; we just follow Jane, an elementary school teacher, through seventeen years of her mostly uneventful life. In many ways it reminded me of an Anne Tyler novel. The character of Jimmy definitely tugged at my heartstrings, and I have many thoughts about the way he was treated. I listened on audio and think the quirkiness would have been too much for me in print.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Car accident, and Death of parent
jmusil44's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
mysticmango's review against another edition
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Ableism
nicolaparty's review against another edition
This book was incredibly insulting to people with intellectual disabilities, describing such a character as defective! the book's happy ending is literally the protagonist realizing that someone with an intellectual disability can be loved and respected as a whole person, not as a burden or object of pity. And this is treated not as a terrible reflection on the protagonist's relationship to this man, but as a happy moment of fulfilment for her. Her recognizing that she's been ableist isn't the start of a period of remorse or learning, it's just a chance for her to get her happily ever after. It's horrible.
Less importantly, I disliked the writing style. I found there to be too many attempts at witty one liners, so that they didn't sit naturally within the text and just felt forced.
Less importantly, I disliked the writing style. I found there to be too many attempts at witty one liners, so that they didn't sit naturally within the text and just felt forced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
merryfaith's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
averyhawthorne's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed this book, but don’t know how much staying power it’ll have in my mind. It was filled with quirky side characters and hilarious dialogue, that were somehow both outlandish and believable. It gave me major Gilmore Girls energy.
The book is told in short, slice-of-life vignettes that propelled the story forward without making it feel choppy. It spanned close to 20 years effortlessly and made the charming small town setting feel real.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys lighthearted, character-driven literary fiction. Do not read this if you’re seeking an exciting plot or something “important”
The book is told in short, slice-of-life vignettes that propelled the story forward without making it feel choppy. It spanned close to 20 years effortlessly and made the charming small town setting feel real.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys lighthearted, character-driven literary fiction. Do not read this if you’re seeking an exciting plot or something “important”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
laurenmcnamara's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Car accident
sierraknits's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I found the emphasis on the attractiveness of the female characters really off-putting, and nearly stopped reading because of it. It becomes less prevalent when new characters stop being introduced.
The way Jimmy is discussed also frequently left a bad taste in my mouth, and would not sit well with many in the disability community.
The way Jimmy is discussed also frequently left a bad taste in my mouth, and would not sit well with many in the disability community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
linesiunderline's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
5.0
This is one of those special books that I loved so much I don’t even really want to write about it. I want to tell everyone to read it, gush about it in nonspecific ways, and then I want to let it be, just be there in my consciousness as a glowing kind of experience.
But this is a review site, so I will. If I must.
This is a read for someone who enjoys books that zoom in on ordinary people, that give you a look at how someone else might navigate and understand their life.
Not a lot “happens”, but in a way that’s kind of like saying that not a lot happens in one ordinary life, which I don’t agree with. Still, you know what I mean. Don’t come in looking for drama and plot twists. This isn’t that book. It is quiet. It is a delicate chain of small moments.
The quirk factor of the secondary characters is high. This might come off as too much for some, but I didn’t mind one bit. Not here. Best friend who brings a banjo with her everywhere? No probs. I accept this. I welcome it. That said, this book is also really funny in that, “Ah, life…” kinda way. I laughed out loud in spots.
Read if you like:
Katherine Center (but with more of a literary quality)
Elizabeth Strout
Amy Poppel
Gilmore Girls
Amelie (another reviewer made this comparison and I have to agree - the light, soft tone, the quirky quality, the sweet moments of melancholy)
Indie movies where not a lot happens but they still grab onto your heart
I hope this book finds all of the readers who will love it most. Maybe that’s you?
But this is a review site, so I will. If I must.
This is a read for someone who enjoys books that zoom in on ordinary people, that give you a look at how someone else might navigate and understand their life.
Not a lot “happens”, but in a way that’s kind of like saying that not a lot happens in one ordinary life, which I don’t agree with. Still, you know what I mean. Don’t come in looking for drama and plot twists. This isn’t that book. It is quiet. It is a delicate chain of small moments.
The quirk factor of the secondary characters is high. This might come off as too much for some, but I didn’t mind one bit. Not here. Best friend who brings a banjo with her everywhere? No probs. I accept this. I welcome it. That said, this book is also really funny in that, “Ah, life…” kinda way. I laughed out loud in spots.
Read if you like:
Katherine Center (but with more of a literary quality)
Elizabeth Strout
Amy Poppel
Gilmore Girls
Amelie (another reviewer made this comparison and I have to agree - the light, soft tone, the quirky quality, the sweet moments of melancholy)
Indie movies where not a lot happens but they still grab onto your heart
I hope this book finds all of the readers who will love it most. Maybe that’s you?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident and Pregnancy