Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

5 reviews

itsheyfay's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

valeriaboom's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lyleelou11's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.25

A really weird want to be Glee x Euphoria type of book. 

The MFC tries way too hard to be Rachel Berry.

Her co-workers make their job site seem like the Euphoria set.

There was a decent amount of good language, and it made me crave coffee, red wine & dark chocolate.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

maartabarrales's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

I hate that this is quickly becoming my to go criticism, but I think this book was in desperate need of some ruthless editing. 
 
While the premise sounds fine to me, “Devil wears Prada of the restaurant industry” it is not enough to carry an entire book, especially not a three hundred paged one. 
 
I would have been pleased to just spend a year in the life of this girl, without any major conflicts, just watching her learn and grow. I’m trash for that most of the time. But with books of that sort you’re usually allowed some color beyond the gimmick, you get to see different aspects of the protagonist’s life or become invested in the people that surround them. In Sweetbitter though, the entire book is comprised of stumbling at the job, drinking and snorting at the closest dive bar and pining over a guy that is exactly the kind to complain about hipsters and girls who wear makeup. 
 
I was simultaneously exhilarated and puzzled at the main character’s shock when her relationship goes sour, her refusal to see this guy as the dick he is was amusingly frustrating.
 
Tess’ relationship with Simone was definitely more interesting, never to the point where either of them become more than mere sketches of people, but you gotta work with what you have. 
 
It felt clear to me from the beginning that Tess wanted, in a way, to become Simone. She wanted her knowledge and poise and envied her relationship with Jake (the crush) I found it funny that what undoes her in the end is the knowledge that Simone and Jake are going on vacation without her. That neither of them considered it important to inform her, much less invite her. 
 
Some accusations of grooming and sexual assault are thrown at Simone in the last stretch, but nothing is ever confirmed and it all felt like a last minute attempt to make her into a villain on the author’s part.
 
Despite this, I still feel like the book has potential, perhaps as a short story, or free of a few hundred pages it would have felt more solid. I wouldn’t recommend it as it is, it has a common enough concept that there are a few better alternatives out there. 
 
Kudos on the cover though, it’s gorgeous.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

khakipantsofsex's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective 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

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...