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A review by rainbowbookworm
Green Dot by Madeleine Gray
2.25
I picked up Green Dot thanks to Gillian Anderson’s recommendation (and let’s be real, I’ll read just about anything she suggests). Anderson described it as “laugh-out-loud funny and achingly sad,” a somewhat apr description that could apply to the bisexual chaos of Hera, the 24-year-old protagonist who finds herself entangled with Arthur, a married man and her boss. As someone who had just finished The Z Word, I was in the mood for another story featuring a complex bisexual character—especially during Bisexual Visibility Day. So, with Green Dot available at the library, I dove in.
Hera is a hot mess who falls deeply into an all-consuming obsession with Arthur, who strings her along with promises of a future together while remaining firmly married. Watching her alienate her friends and family just to be on call for him 24/7 was frustrating and, honestly, sad. There’s a moment when Hera chooses to seek comfort in Arthur instead of going to her father, who genuinely needs her, and it’s heartbreak on top of heartbreak.
I didn’t quite get the “laugh-out-loud” moments Anderson mentioned—Green Dot felt more like watching someone make one bad decision after another, but I did find myself caring about Hera. Her mental health and well-being kept me invested even when the story became predictable. The ending? You can see it coming, but there’s something about the final image that sticks with you. It leaves you thinking long after you close the book.
Overall, I’m torn between two and three stars. While I didn’t love Green Dot, it has a way of lingering with you—and maybe that’s the point.
Hera is a hot mess who falls deeply into an all-consuming obsession with Arthur, who strings her along with promises of a future together while remaining firmly married. Watching her alienate her friends and family just to be on call for him 24/7 was frustrating and, honestly, sad. There’s a moment when Hera chooses to seek comfort in Arthur instead of going to her father, who genuinely needs her, and it’s heartbreak on top of heartbreak.
I didn’t quite get the “laugh-out-loud” moments Anderson mentioned—Green Dot felt more like watching someone make one bad decision after another, but I did find myself caring about Hera. Her mental health and well-being kept me invested even when the story became predictable. The ending? You can see it coming, but there’s something about the final image that sticks with you. It leaves you thinking long after you close the book.
Overall, I’m torn between two and three stars. While I didn’t love Green Dot, it has a way of lingering with you—and maybe that’s the point.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic