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A review by zygomatic
Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler
emotional
medium-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
1.0
There are some promising sentences in this novel, suggestive of a better book in the future by this author. But the majority of this is so poorly written I couldn't take it anymore. I almost gave up multiple times, literally ready to close it out a final time five pages from the end. Having parentheses constantly, exclamation marks for everything, repeating the same phrases in parentheses with exclamation marks, cliche phrases and melodramatic writing, writing first and last names all the time, mentioning Disney an absurd, gross amount. I think the author believes that foreshadowing is saying exactly what's going to happen. The characters and story are so bad that I wondered if anything unexpected happens that justifies its popularity. I guess it plays into the editor scene? Lots of pop culture references, including songs? Tons of shit lib virtue signaling? I'm at a loss. This reads like a preteen's diary entries.
Adelaide spiraling over someone she doesn't know at all is so stupid and cringe to read. Also, physically bumping into people as a plot point? No.
Some stupid highlights:
"(Peed! Her! Pants!)" (page 140)
"How little she knew." (page 142)
"finally (finally!)" (page 144)
"But in a few days, the world would be ending" (page 147)
"There's another version of this story. One in which ___ lives, and the world continues turning." ( page 148)
"It wasn't meant to happen like this. Nothing was meant to happen like this." (page 165)
"Adelaide, as we know, was not afraid of Death." (page 181)
"It should be noted that Adelaide had barely slept in months, not since ___ death." (page 210)
"It was a series of unfortunate events, really, that led Adelaide to the moment. It wasn't her fault, you see, because the train was delayed. There were leaves on the track. It was the train's fault, honestly. And the leaves! (At least, this is what she'd try to tell herself. [...])" (page 234)
"Adelaide knew. Well, she didn't know. She had no idea what was coming, really." (page 237)
"Adelaide had no idea that in two days, she was going to try to kill herself." (page 241)
Adelaide spiraling over someone she doesn't know at all is so stupid and cringe to read. Also, physically bumping into people as a plot point? No.
Some stupid highlights:
"(Peed! Her! Pants!)" (page 140)
"How little she knew." (page 142)
"finally (finally!)" (page 144)
"But in a few days, the world would be ending" (page 147)
"There's another version of this story. One in which ___ lives, and the world continues turning." ( page 148)
"It wasn't meant to happen like this. Nothing was meant to happen like this." (page 165)
"Adelaide, as we know, was not afraid of Death." (page 181)
"It should be noted that Adelaide had barely slept in months, not since ___ death." (page 210)
"It was a series of unfortunate events, really, that led Adelaide to the moment. It wasn't her fault, you see, because the train was delayed. There were leaves on the track. It was the train's fault, honestly. And the leaves! (At least, this is what she'd try to tell herself. [...])" (page 234)
"Adelaide knew. Well, she didn't know. She had no idea what was coming, really." (page 237)
"Adelaide had no idea that in two days, she was going to try to kill herself." (page 241)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Minor: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Self harm, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria