A review by transcendent
The Quiet and the Loud by Helena Fox

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

After loving Fox's debut and having it be my highest rated book for a good bit, I had some high hopes for The Quiet and the Loud however it felt like such a muddy, mish mash of different things the author wanted to state their contention on as quickly as they physically could. 

I genuinely despised the best friend in this book and felt like whatever message was being broadcast through her storyline (which was blurry at best) was overshadowed by her name taking up most of my page- ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND ITS SUPPOSED TO! I just don't think I'm meant to have this much disdain for a fictional pregnant person.
 
The general messages that were being put out were also so insane, like I had to remind myself if it was about the Australian government's lack of care for the climate, abortion rights/pregnancy rights, the harrowing subjects of domestic abuse/violence, family abuse/violence, addiction and how it's normalised in the context of the Australian home, being part of the LGBTQIA community as an adult and a youth
(?)(which. felt so performative at a certain point)
, being a POC in the protest space and the freaking class divide in Sydney.

I have no final thoughts I'm going to go watch a tv show to get rid of Tess's insane plotline out of my head. It will be a talking point over coffee with my friends. Like would I have enjoyed this book more without the best friend.... Yes, probably! I'm so mad.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings