A review by adavidson37
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was lucky enough to receive this book early from Dart Frogg & Scribner, as my first ever arc! Big Swiss isn’t the type of book I would normally find myself choosing, but let me tell you, once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. It hooked me in immediately. It felt like some mix between the Netflix series Sex Education (with the sex therapy shenanigans, & weird af sex stories), and the book Detransition, Baby (with the tone, dry wit, & bluntness of the writing, and also just adults in messy crises), and just the general vibe of the Hudson Valley (ifykyk).

The main character of this book is messy- every character in this book is, honestly. It’s about life and lies and guilt and sexuality and aging. Its about bees and dogs and mini donkeys. It’s a book I definitely would recommend to people.

I would throw a TW on this book for domestic/sexual assault that is described in detail by the victim, frequent mentions of the suicide of a character we never meet, suicidal ideation by the main character, and graphic injury of a dog.

A big thank you to Dart Frogg & Scribner for sending me the arc of this book to share on TikTok (@shoptywl)!
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