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scifi_rat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Plot: 3.5★
Prose: 4★
Pace: 3.5★
Concept/Execution: 3.5★/4★
Characters: 3.5★
Worldbuilding: 3.75★
Ending: 3.75★
Prose: 4★
Pace: 3.5★
Concept/Execution: 3.5★/4★
Characters: 3.5★
Worldbuilding: 3.75★
Ending: 3.75★
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, Medical content, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Murder
hothotheat's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
read this in a buddy read because I was sad this show got cancelled but this was not really for me, I guess. The show and book are obviously similar in a lot of ways but it also feels drastically different that watching it before will not really prepare you for what happens in this book.
This is a pretty funny book at times and there are some really poignant points in it but there's such a large feeling of detachment (that I think is done on purpose) that doesn't really land or make me feel anything sometimes. Honestly, the writing kind of reminded me of Ottessa Moshfegh though I think Moshfegh's stuff leans more into description in a way this book doesn't. That being said, I get the ideas that are trying to be conveyed but Jasper's parts felt really out of place for a long time and even when the two stories FINALLY come together, it feels weird and rushed. The ending itself also felt weird in itself but not unsatisfying. The real problem though is that halfway through reading this, I started losing steam and really wanted to just get to the end so I could be done with it. Everything after Hazel's suicide attempt and Jasper getting kicked out just felt really slow to me and I was kind of over it lol. I think it's because those two plot points had a LOT of emotion charged in it compared to the rest of the book that everything after it was just like...meh to me. The parts I liked I really did like though!
I really had issues with Fiffany's character throughout the whole thing and have no idea what to take from the ending of her killing Byron and that being seen as an apology to Hazel after being an asshole to her the whole time? So that she could get with Byron to gain control of the company to run it...better? Theoretically? That just felt really off to me and part of that could be attributed to it being because I watched the show first. But whatever.
This is a pretty funny book at times and there are some really poignant points in it but there's such a large feeling of detachment (that I think is done on purpose) that doesn't really land or make me feel anything sometimes. Honestly, the writing kind of reminded me of Ottessa Moshfegh though I think Moshfegh's stuff leans more into description in a way this book doesn't. That being said, I get the ideas that are trying to be conveyed but Jasper's parts felt really out of place for a long time and even when the two stories FINALLY come together, it feels weird and rushed. The ending itself also felt weird in itself but not unsatisfying. The real problem though is that halfway through reading this, I started losing steam and really wanted to just get to the end so I could be done with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
saloule's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Cancer, and Animal cruelty
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