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crodgers90's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion
blondylocks23's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this coming of age story about living in your 20s in Ireland. It showed real insight into the life of a young adult learning to find their feet.
I also appreciated how O’Donoghue tied everything together at the end of the book for most characters/ plot.
The book also explores some key important issues of that time period that is still relevant today.
Would definitely read again!
I also appreciated how O’Donoghue tied everything together at the end of the book for most characters/ plot.
The book also explores some key important issues of that time period that is still relevant today.
Would definitely read again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm not typically a fan of messy millennial fiction. I'm not the right demographic, too old and curmudgeonly. But this one worked for me for a few reasons.
* The uniqueness of a key premise. Rachel has a crush on her professor. James encourages her to pursue him but ends up having an affair with him himself.
*The focus on a female--male friendship
*The fact that its told retrospectively with Rachel looking back at this eventful period in her 20s, meant we got to see and learn about the charcaters, after they have left the messy millennial years behind them and are living mostly happy, fulfilling lives.
*It's nuanced abortion storyline.
* Carey. No idea why I had a soft spot for him, but I did.
* Rachel's jobs in a bookstore, publishing, and journalism were a bonus for me as a booklover and one-time wannabe journalist.
* The uniqueness of a key premise. Rachel has a crush on her professor. James encourages her to pursue him but ends up having an affair with him himself.
*The focus on a female--male friendship
*The fact that its told retrospectively with Rachel looking back at this eventful period in her 20s, meant we got to see and learn about the charcaters, after they have left the messy millennial years behind them and are living mostly happy, fulfilling lives.
*It's nuanced abortion storyline.
* Carey. No idea why I had a soft spot for him, but I did.
* Rachel's jobs in a bookstore, publishing, and journalism were a bonus for me as a booklover and one-time wannabe journalist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Abortion
chelsealovesschnitzel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Abortion
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Body shaming
abbier0ad's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
‘I was twenty and I needed two things: to be in love and to be taken seriously’
What a beautiful book. The highs and lows of Rachel. Although I couldn’t relate to Rachel and her life, fully. Okay maybe being in my 20’s and not sure what do with my life.
But this book will stay with me forever.
‘But even then what I liked most about reading was that I was good at it. I had taken to it quite quickly as a child’
What a beautiful book. The highs and lows of Rachel. Although I couldn’t relate to Rachel and her life, fully. Okay maybe being in my 20’s and not sure what do with my life.
But this book will stay with me forever.
‘But even then what I liked most about reading was that I was good at it. I had taken to it quite quickly as a child’
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Abortion
chloealex's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Abortion, and Pregnancy
simonefk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I read this for my book club. I would say it's well written and quite easy to read but I found the characters very unlikable. It definitely offers insight into life in Ireland, especially regarding abortion rights and I think the author did a great job at highlighting that. But sadly overall, the lack of any redeeming features in the two main characters makes this feel like a rather forgettable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
limewizard's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved this book, I found it incredibly well-written with careful humour and references that were bound to their time but still relatable - most likely because they were written in hindsight. Our main character is not held on a literary pedestal, instead she is deep, real, messy, raw and knows her own flaws. Big topics were dealt with in such a human, realistic way. My only drawback is that the ending, and her current love life, feels rushed and like tying up loose ends- yet it still makes sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Physical abuse
shelbycf27's review against another edition
funny
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Abortion