A review by kyrasws11
Engaging Men by Lynda Curnyn
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was better than I expected, but still, not great. Not that I had many expectations. There were definitely aspects that I did not enjoy, and the whole premise of a woman feeling rushed to get married was not a vibe, but there were some redeeming parts. For example, a lot of the characters were really lovable, specifically Justin and Grace. I also really loved the queer representation, and even though it was just of a gay white man, it was nice to see that character's want for a family and children portrayed as normal and acceptable.
Most of the problems I have with this book stem from the main character, Angie. For so much of the book, it felt like she was just bending to whatever the wills of other people or what the society she lived in expected from her. Up until the very end, it seemed like Angie was just content to do whatever, just accept her lot in life and be okay with whatever came her way. It felt like she had no wants or ambitions of her own. I also hated the passage of time in this book. At times, events happened in days that felt like they should have occurred over the expanse of weeks, and at other times, weeks passed while being described in the same way as days. I was often left confused over where in the story the event was taking place. The ending also felt extremely rushed and parts of it felt like it came out of left field. It almost would have been better as a separate book or novella, though I don't know if there would be much interest in reading one.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book. I spent most of this book resenting the main character, wishing she would start to want something and hoping she would not marry the guy she spends most of the book trying to marry. The side characters in this book were definitely the saving grace, but not enough to make it worth reading.
Most of the problems I have with this book stem from the main character, Angie. For so much of the book, it felt like she was just bending to whatever the wills of other people or what the society she lived in expected from her. Up until the very end, it seemed like Angie was just content to do whatever, just accept her lot in life and be okay with whatever came her way. It felt like she had no wants or ambitions of her own. I also hated the passage of time in this book. At times, events happened in days that felt like they should have occurred over the expanse of weeks, and at other times, weeks passed while being described in the same way as days. I was often left confused over where in the story the event was taking place. The ending also felt extremely rushed and parts of it felt like it came out of left field. It almost would have been better as a separate book or novella, though I don't know if there would be much interest in reading one.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book. I spent most of this book resenting the main character, wishing she would start to want something and hoping she would not marry the guy she spends most of the book trying to marry. The side characters in this book were definitely the saving grace, but not enough to make it worth reading.