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3.06 AVERAGE
3.06 AVERAGE
dark
tense
I have the Ick.
The prose is undeniably gorgeous.
The structure holds.
The bones of a powerful story are there.
But what’s built on them left me gutted in all the wrong ways.
Because here’s the truth: a girl is harmed, and no one, not the narrative, not the tone, not even the mother, fully honors that reality.
The mother doubts her.
Thinks she’s making it up.
The father arrives in a cloud of controlled rage.
He believes her, and there's something steadying in that, but even his fury is restrained, polite.
And the mother?
She’s grieving the loss of her life, her friendships, her place in the world.
It all reads like a quiet, literary reenactment of patriarchy: exquisite in form, but hollow at its core.
A story where men mourn each other and their unraveling, while the girl, the one who’s actually been violated, is made peripheral.
Symbolic.
Small.
I’m exhausted by this. By the erasure. By the way her pain becomes texture rather than truth.
I am done with stories that treat females as collateral damage in the emotional growth of men.
I am done with mothers who choose denial over devotion.
I am done with pain wrapped in poetic language that asks me to admire its beauty instead of name its brutality.
The prose is undeniably gorgeous.
The structure holds.
The bones of a powerful story are there.
But what’s built on them left me gutted in all the wrong ways.
Because here’s the truth: a girl is harmed, and no one, not the narrative, not the tone, not even the mother, fully honors that reality.
The mother doubts her.
Thinks she’s making it up.
The father arrives in a cloud of controlled rage.
He believes her, and there's something steadying in that, but even his fury is restrained, polite.
And the mother?
She’s grieving the loss of her life, her friendships, her place in the world.
It all reads like a quiet, literary reenactment of patriarchy: exquisite in form, but hollow at its core.
A story where men mourn each other and their unraveling, while the girl, the one who’s actually been violated, is made peripheral.
Symbolic.
Small.
I’m exhausted by this. By the erasure. By the way her pain becomes texture rather than truth.
I am done with stories that treat females as collateral damage in the emotional growth of men.
I am done with mothers who choose denial over devotion.
I am done with pain wrapped in poetic language that asks me to admire its beauty instead of name its brutality.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
medium-paced
ARC REVIEW
I’m not really sure how to review this if I’m honest.
Among Friends is a powerful piece of literary fiction, spanning the lives of two families if lifelong friends, Amos and Emerson. Each character is so thoroughly written that we know the ins and outs of each by the end, there are twists and turns and Ebbott’s tense, abrupt tone is very refreshing, and the language is so well commanded but, I have to admit, I was bored. I did enjoy it. but 300 pages was a bit much.
My honest review is it is another piece of fiction where crisis would have been averted if the two main characters just realised they wanted to sleep together …
Thank you to Picador and Netgalley for the ARC
I’m not really sure how to review this if I’m honest.
Among Friends is a powerful piece of literary fiction, spanning the lives of two families if lifelong friends, Amos and Emerson. Each character is so thoroughly written that we know the ins and outs of each by the end, there are twists and turns and Ebbott’s tense, abrupt tone is very refreshing, and the language is so well commanded but, I have to admit, I was bored. I did enjoy it. but 300 pages was a bit much.
My honest review is it is another piece of fiction where crisis would have been averted if the two main characters just realised they wanted to sleep together …
Thank you to Picador and Netgalley for the ARC
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
While I’m a fan of a slow, literary read, I’m sick of male authors using sexual assault as a plot device. The characters were also insufferable.
I enjoyed reading this novel, it was at times a tad slow (meaning it took me weeks to read as I didn’t need to read in one sitting or pick back up again sooner.
The friendship was explained well, even showing the competition between Amos and Emerson and how the events affect them/their friendship.
Some of the characters reactions were shocking, Claire’s the worst, how on earth could she think so little of her daughter? And Sophie being encouraged by her mum to pull away from Anna, absolute shocking behaviour!! I’m so glad that Anna had the support from her dad!
This is a book that you will want to talk about or in my case rant about the awful ways in which victims can be treated.
The friendship was explained well, even showing the competition between Amos and Emerson and how the events affect them/their friendship.
Some of the characters reactions were shocking, Claire’s the worst, how on earth could she think so little of her daughter? And Sophie being encouraged by her mum to pull away from Anna, absolute shocking behaviour!! I’m so glad that Anna had the support from her dad!
This is a book that you will want to talk about or in my case rant about the awful ways in which victims can be treated.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an emotionally heavy and complex literary debut. Ebbott's writing is incredible and portrays mundane life experiences so beautifully and accurately. The novel captures the complicated dynamics of lifelong friendships - the long-held petty grudges and insecurities, the jealousy and competitiveness. It explores power, privilege, and class, and the conflict of choosing a path that is smooth and easy vs doing what is right and what is hard. The characters are well-developed and so real, though not all sympathetic, and often even repulsive. It was quite slow at the beginning but built tension so well. Anna's chapters were especially heart-wrenching, and I was really impressed with how well Ebbott was able to capture the teenage girl experience.
Thank you to Riverhead Books for the free ARC!
Thank you to Riverhead Books for the free ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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:
Yes