A review by mackdaddy
Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I read a review of this book, right before I got my hands on it, that said "If you're a fan of Sally Rooney you would probably love this book - 2 Stars." After reading it the comparison is obvious - the lack of quotation marks (though this book uses italics which is just about the same as quotation marks), the story following a young woman in tumultuous relationships (though this is really only about one tumultuous relationship), the use of free indirect discourse to slip between the perspectives of the characters (though this happens less fluidly than in 'Normal People' and our author here is much more omniscient). That's really where the comparisons ended for me (though clearly not for our author as she actually mentions Sally Rooney's 'Conversations with Friends' and 'Normal People' in the book). The characters in Wheeler's book are not staunch communists, like in many Rooney books,
and most noticeably Wheeler gives in and gives us a considerably clean, tidy, and happy ending.


Overall though this was an incredible read. Adelaide is painfully relatable, and I personally felt like I had a lot in common with her. I felt the emotions in this book fully and had shed many tears when I finished the book. 
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