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naya04's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
namizaela's review
3.75
This book has many good qualities, including some incredible quotes and clear character arcs, but I found most of it a little boring and repetitive. I think part of it had to do with my expectations--I didn't realize there would be so much sex, and my expectations were set unfairly high because of how much I loved Normal People.
I think this book only started to get good when all four characters got together, since it was difficult to tell the true nature of Alice and Eileen's relationship over their letters, and the interactions between Simon and Felix helped establish them as characters other than the love interests of the main duo. Also, the dynamic between Alice/Felix and Eileen/Simon remained mostly unchanged for the part of the novel before that, and I found myself wondering when something was going to happen. The epilogue seemed to come out of nowhere and wrap everything up a little too nicely, even if I was happy the characters got a satisfying ending.
Maybe I just needed to go in with a different state of mind when reading this book. It's a great candidate for a reread!
I think this book only started to get good when all four characters got together, since it was difficult to tell the true nature of Alice and Eileen's relationship over their letters, and the interactions between Simon and Felix helped establish them as characters other than the love interests of the main duo. Also, the dynamic between Alice/Felix and Eileen/Simon remained mostly unchanged for the part of the novel before that, and I found myself wondering when something was going to happen. The epilogue seemed to come out of nowhere and wrap everything up a little too nicely, even if I was happy the characters got a satisfying ending.
Maybe I just needed to go in with a different state of mind when reading this book. It's a great candidate for a reread!
isa_cantoral's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
lauren_0508's review
challenging
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sam_bruner's review against another edition
3.75
Did somewhat redeem her writing style for me. The pacing seemed to be a bit jerky for my taste, but overall enjoyable. Definitely not a re-read me though.
katotoka's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
letiziadinca's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lucy_r78's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5