A review by ashyyy
Friends & Dark Shapes by Kavita Bedford

emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I love a good slice of life story, but this one was not engaging for me. I thought I'd find the plot relatable, but it was kind of just...boring. Nothing ever really happened in the book that was memorable. 
I also felt the protagonist was more of a hovering third eye narrator and less like an actual character. Not even her grieving connected me to her as a reader. My favourite chapter was 43 when she
had a breakdown on the Ferris wheel because we finally got to see some emotion from her instead of this apathetic view of the world
. 
The biggest let down for me was the narrative style. I really did not like the chosen lack of dialogue. It often left me confused whether it was a person talking or the protagonist's inner thoughts. On top of that, it made me feel disconnected from the characters as it was told in such a dry, journalistic way. I did enjoy the memories between her and her dad, the little moments that she clings to in fear of losing him forever, but again, the narrative style left me feeling disconnected from it as a whole.
Maybe I missed something here, but it just didn't grab me.
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