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A review by aleisurelydame
Pasadena by Sherri L. Smith
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I picked up this book solely because of its title ( Pasadena is my hometown), but was underwhelmed by the representation of it. At times, Smith's tendency to over-describe Pasadena and its geography felt less like she was trying to set the scene and more like she was trying to prove she had been to the city.
The book's characters feel like caricatures pulled from a CW teen drama. They don't develop much throughout the story. The narrator's POV is very confusing at times. She's constantly giving the reader descriptions and explanations of her physical surroundings and the people around her that a teenage girl probably wouldn't know, especially if she has only spent about 2-3 years around the rest of the cast of characters.
Smith attempts to highlight class disparity, which is prevalent in many cities within Los Angeles county, but doesn't fully commit to it. I would have liked to see that become part of Jude's journey, as her very privileged friend group grapples with the loss of their mutual friend.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to reminisce about the Coffee Bean on Fair Oaks ( which is now long gone), but if you want a developed story... feel free to skip this one.
The book's characters feel like caricatures pulled from a CW teen drama. They don't develop much throughout the story. The narrator's POV is very confusing at times. She's constantly giving the reader descriptions and explanations of her physical surroundings and the people around her that a teenage girl probably wouldn't know, especially if she has only spent about 2-3 years around the rest of the cast of characters.
Smith attempts to highlight class disparity, which is prevalent in many cities within Los Angeles county, but doesn't fully commit to it. I would have liked to see that become part of Jude's journey, as her very privileged friend group grapples with the loss of their mutual friend.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to reminisce about the Coffee Bean on Fair Oaks ( which is now long gone), but if you want a developed story... feel free to skip this one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Grief