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nialiversuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Death, War, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Violence
chasinggrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The writing style purposefully flows like time - unrelenting, constant, not a pause or a playback in sight. This book is meant to be read on the beach, in the sun, in reflection. It single-handedly made me see the beauty in life again, in the small things and in humanity and in love and loss. I was choked up this entire book simply because of the beauty of it and its inevitable end.
Every single character was incredibly unique. All complex, all beautiful. No one was the “good guy” or the “bad guy” because they were intricate sculptures of real people. The acceptance of the multiple queer relationships was done so well, especially given the time period. Sex was explored so uniquely in this book.
The descriptions of Italy left me speechless. The references of art, of architecture, the descriptions of food and outfits and nature and people. The writing was immaculate.
Everyone will get something different from this story, depending on the season of life in which you read it. This book is meant to be consumed repetitively, on trains and beaches and in bed.
This has become a Roman Empire book for me.
Graphic: War, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Animal death, Abandonment, Grief, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse
pkc's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, and Sexual content
culinaryjules's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Alcohol, War, Sexual content, Murder, and Death
kryskross's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, and War
jencolumb0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
That conversation and the (obviously well-researched) bits about Florentine artists, particularly female artists, as well as the over-arching conversation of how women must and chose to live their lives around men in a patriarchy (cleverly woven into the story) were heady contrasts to the relatively mundane passage of time memorialized in the book.
I, too, adore Florence. Like many of the characters in the book, I went when I was young, the city promptly imprinted itself onto my heart, and I have returned at every opportunity since, peeling back layers to reveal new aspects of my freedom each time. You would think that I would adore this book, too. And I did. For the first 250 pages or so.
Then, the action in the book just kind of petered out: the characters continued to bounce between the pub in London and the pensione in Florence, learning very little new about themselves and nothing surprising happened to them in fact. I am still not entirely sure why we all had to hang onto getting through through the 70s to achieve the ends of the book. Perhaps, on the heels of a Rachel Joyce book, I was ready to read something with a bit more action. Nonetheless, a lovely read that should be a priority for anyone heading to Florence or whose heart belongs there.
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Infidelity, Death, Car accident, and Abortion
jcinf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Though, I will say that it was a relaxing read. Lowkey, enjoyable, with a few bits of wisdom scattered throughout.
Reminded me of my time in Florence for sure. Made me nostalgic in the best way. Made me hope my future is a lot like Evelyn’s.
Moderate: Death
Minor: Homophobia and Abortion
frankieclc's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, War, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia
sophie42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: War, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
julied's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Death, War, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Pregnancy