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megfunston's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent
loverrbboy's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i think this book found me exactly when i needed it. struggling to find my own identity outside of my friends and loving them, feeling lonely in a way that hanging out with them doesn’t fix, hurting deeply and afraid of being left alone with it all.
the protag is deeply invested in herself and her environment above all else. with her background it makes sense, and she has a lot of privilege to be able to live her life the way she does - but it also seems lonely. she describes how she fights this loneliness and fear of the perceptions of others.
i loved the concept of giving yourself a beautiful homemade meal to look forward to after a big scary outing. of the way her cat Porkchop looks at her, protect her space, is just a cat being a simple cat in the background of all her mess.
i didn’t like the way she seems to judge all other women as performing for men all the time. although i’m sure a lot of it is true.
i spent the second half of this book hoping thatshe wouldn’t end up running away with this guy, and living happily ever after. i was so relieved that it just ended, after a fun and different and interesting night together. she held him, and enjoyed him, and let him go. not yearning to keep him around forever. not fearing the moment he should leave. just content to have had him for a little while, to know him, to observe him. . i want to think more like her.
i hadn’t managed to get through a paper book in months before this book screamed to me from the street library “hey!! there is still stories for you. there is still things you can do.”
the protag is deeply invested in herself and her environment above all else. with her background it makes sense, and she has a lot of privilege to be able to live her life the way she does - but it also seems lonely. she describes how she fights this loneliness and fear of the perceptions of others.
i loved the concept of giving yourself a beautiful homemade meal to look forward to after a big scary outing. of the way her cat Porkchop looks at her, protect her space, is just a cat being a simple cat in the background of all her mess.
i didn’t like the way she seems to judge all other women as performing for men all the time. although i’m sure a lot of it is true.
i spent the second half of this book hoping that
i hadn’t managed to get through a paper book in months before this book screamed to me from the street library “hey!! there is still stories for you. there is still things you can do.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
laran_s's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
One of my favourite most beautiful reading experiences of all time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
lenin_lover_69's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
2.0
I found this just a really strange novel! I finished it but only because the ending arrived quite quickly once there was character dialogue that would take up several pages.
Echoing other reviewers, this book is like a stream of a consciousness from a protagonist who is neurodiverse - this isn't mentioned in the book but I think that can be fairly gleaned from reading an interview with the author whose public profile is very much oriented around her experience as an autistic woman. I think as a result the book maybe reads a bit like autofiction or at least you find yourself seeing the character as the author whether you want to or not.
It feels really indulgent and kind of exciting at times to have a book that is primarily the characters internal dialogue - in this context all the kind of strange and problematic thoughts she has throughout make sense since that is consistent with all our internal dialogues. But idk lots of other reviewers have put it better than me but the character is really misogynistic! Big I'm-not-like-other-girls energy, and really fixated on gender norms. There are also strange musings on being queer (wishes she was attracted to women romantically as it would be easier), First Nations people (feels strange around 'them' due to colonisation?), bodies (assumes someone is fat and depressed because of some items on a fridge shelf?? Lol) and then of course the big reveal which is that she lives in a full block sized mansion in toorak by herself as her parents died when she was 17 and her family are very rich due to being property developers since the 1800s. As a result, she does not work!
I think it's as a result of these things that nothing about the character really rang true since all her views on everything either seemed completely conservative and conventional except when she was saying 'she read somewhere" and then she would recount something progressive about abusive relationships, or Indigenous land dispossession which sorry but if her family were acquiring massive amounts of property in the 19th century they would have been absolutely part of that!!
Shame about it as the concept could have been really interesting if it was executed better!!
Echoing other reviewers, this book is like a stream of a consciousness from a protagonist who is neurodiverse - this isn't mentioned in the book but I think that can be fairly gleaned from reading an interview with the author whose public profile is very much oriented around her experience as an autistic woman. I think as a result the book maybe reads a bit like autofiction or at least you find yourself seeing the character as the author whether you want to or not.
It feels really indulgent and kind of exciting at times to have a book that is primarily the characters internal dialogue - in this context all the kind of strange and problematic thoughts she has throughout make sense since that is consistent with all our internal dialogues. But idk lots of other reviewers have put it better than me but the character is really misogynistic! Big I'm-not-like-other-girls energy, and really fixated on gender norms. There are also strange musings on being queer (wishes she was attracted to women romantically as it would be easier), First Nations people (feels strange around 'them' due to colonisation?), bodies (assumes someone is fat and depressed because of some items on a fridge shelf?? Lol) and then of course the big reveal which is that
I think it's as a result of these things that nothing about the character really rang true since all her views on everything either seemed completely conservative and conventional except when she was saying 'she read somewhere" and then she would recount something progressive about abusive relationships, or Indigenous land dispossession which
Shame about it as the concept could have been really interesting if it was executed better!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Sexual violence
solanum's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship
buttermellow's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Death of parent
queersubtext's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
books_and_fairy_lights's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was hard for me to get into it at the start, but once I was I finished it in two days and read it everywhere I went. It's really nice, a great stream of consciousness that looks at what it's like to be a human/woman in this world, more specifically someone with greater sensibilities (neirodiverse). I loved that it allowed me to better see and understand some people's feelings and point of view towards life, while recognizing myself quite well in some parts. Another great thing about this book was how freely it talked about any and all subjects, and that including sexuality. In short this was really a nice read and I'm glad I let myself be tempted.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse
teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is such a gem of a book. It was exactly what I needed. Throughout the book, I felt my heart grow to love the main character (I don't believe she was named) a little bit more with each page. It was a lovely portrait of neurodiversity. It was beautifully told and felt. It was full of love, hope and happiness in being who you truly are. I highly encourage others to read it. It was quirky, fun and lovable. And so, so much more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism
sarahdrummond's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thought it was an interesting take on autism and love that it was written by a talented, autistic, australian woman. i thought this book captured the condition quite well with so many different overlapping thoughts. but it was too slow paced for me. thank you for the read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment