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A review by no_good_wyfe
I Take You by Eliza Kennedy
4.0
I rarely review anymore, since what I had to say has invariable been said better by someone else. But, this time... not so much.
I thought this was great. No, the main character is not likable. She isn't supposed to be. Think [b:Emma|6969|Emma|Jane Austen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373627931s/6969.jpg|3360164], or perhaps even more aptly, [b:Gentlemen Prefer Blondes|512704|Gentlemen Prefer Blondes|Anita Loos|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347601719s/512704.jpg|6300277]. I'm not saying this deserves to be canonized alongside those works, but its protagonist could be modern cousin to Emma and Lorelei Lee.
She does all sorts of things that have been labelled "immoral" in modern society. Cheating, promiscuity, drugs, an alcohol habit verging on addiction, and the whole time determinedly ignores the trepidation her friends and loved ones are expressing. Sometimes she pulls it off with aplomb, but other times she is irritating. I saw that as good, intentional writing. Not all protags actually HAVE to read like your next best friend.
As others have said, these topics may be polarizing for some. I will add that if reading about a fictional character's violation of arbitrary social constructs and boundaries (like monogamous engagement) makes you so uncomfortable you have to stop reading, maybe you need to challenge your own ideologies and engage in a little more critical thinking. I didn't perceive this book as having a solid moral stance on the issue in either direction. Reading about it will not make you "bad" by association.
Okay, I'm ranting. The point is, this is a smart, fresh take on chick-lit, and Lily is a brilliantly rendered flawed character. Don't read it as a manifesto making an aggressive feminist argument, or as a feel-good piece of fluff that will fit right into your worldview. Let it fall somewhere in the liminal space and enjoy the ride.
I thought this was great. No, the main character is not likable. She isn't supposed to be. Think [b:Emma|6969|Emma|Jane Austen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373627931s/6969.jpg|3360164], or perhaps even more aptly, [b:Gentlemen Prefer Blondes|512704|Gentlemen Prefer Blondes|Anita Loos|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347601719s/512704.jpg|6300277]. I'm not saying this deserves to be canonized alongside those works, but its protagonist could be modern cousin to Emma and Lorelei Lee.
She does all sorts of things that have been labelled "immoral" in modern society. Cheating, promiscuity, drugs, an alcohol habit verging on addiction, and the whole time determinedly ignores the trepidation her friends and loved ones are expressing. Sometimes she pulls it off with aplomb, but other times she is irritating. I saw that as good, intentional writing. Not all protags actually HAVE to read like your next best friend.
As others have said, these topics may be polarizing for some. I will add that if reading about a fictional character's violation of arbitrary social constructs and boundaries (like monogamous engagement) makes you so uncomfortable you have to stop reading, maybe you need to challenge your own ideologies and engage in a little more critical thinking. I didn't perceive this book as having a solid moral stance on the issue in either direction. Reading about it will not make you "bad" by association.
Okay, I'm ranting. The point is, this is a smart, fresh take on chick-lit, and Lily is a brilliantly rendered flawed character. Don't read it as a manifesto making an aggressive feminist argument, or as a feel-good piece of fluff that will fit right into your worldview. Let it fall somewhere in the liminal space and enjoy the ride.