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awhittz's review against another edition
4.5
Picked this up as the third in a 3 for 2 after “Milkman meets Derry Girls” caught my eye, so glad I did. You really live this book alongside the protagonist, from fish and chips to the most vivid description of a period I’ve maybe ever read. All with this backdrop of the Troubles, and sinister yet casual violence and tragedy.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
1.0
Was not a fan of this. Very EMO, lots of graphic period talk that I didn't really find necessary. I can appreciate the author was trying to create a certain kind of tone and character but it wasn't an appealing one for me.
freddie's review against another edition
5.0
Majella's life as a 20-something chip shop employee living together with her alcoholic mother in a fictional small post-Troubles Northern Ireland town of Aghybogey is quite unremarkable, except that her grandmother has just recently been killed and everyone in town knows about it. We also learn that her father is missing, possibly related to his involvement in the conflicts during The Troubles. This novel excels in highlighting the awkwardness and tedium that Majella faces in her daily life.
athenap93's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
nickymaund's review against another edition
4.0
I went into reading this with high hopes. High hopes for the ready and easy humour of Derry Girls and when Majella sucks you into her life, that’s not what I got. For me that comparison is false. What I got was her life; warts and all. This is a story that will leaving you feeling for the life that Majella lives - her alcoholic mother, her father who’s disappeared and the recent murder of her beloved granny. Majella struggles to make sense of the world, through her autistic eyes and strange ticks and ways of coping, and how no one, not even her own mum understands (or tries to!) the way she is. There’s not much to the story, but this is all about the mundane, the everyday, her life. As with every small hometown, there’s the nosey neighbours knowing exactly what goes on in your house and life. It’s choc full of Irish vernacular and lots of bad language (be warned!), this also gives the perspective of the locals living through ‘The Troubles’ and their view on Protestants, the Brits and the PISNI. It was a real eye opener. It’s not an easy read with references to suicide. After finishing the book and Majella’s story, I’m left want to know more - what happened next! Majella will stay with me for a long time.
daschneider's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lucyremitz's review against another edition
2.0
I listened to the audiobook version of this. So many people love this book and it has great reviews, but I just didn’t feel the same. This is definitely more of a character driven book which I often like, but for me I just didn’t connect with the character so found it hard to pick up and want to progress. I think it’s well written, captures an interesting set of characters in a small Northern Irish town - hints at all the cultural nuances and undertones but I just wished there was more of a story to carry things on. Think this one just wasn’t for me!
fraidyghost's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sierrainstitches's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
I don't even know how I came upon this probably Instagram but I reserved this at my library and I'm so glad I did. It's a new release I'd class as young adult/contemporary. It's about Majella who is 27 and what we would class as plus size. She's never left her home town, still lives with her mother at home and works in the local chippy.
The book reminds me of derry girls as stated on the cover, parts had me laughing out loud. There is no covering up here includes sex scenes and adult language. But a brilliant read. Majella does the same things daily in this story but it isn't boring. Majority of the book is set in the chippy she works at with it being a small town she gets everyone through her door and many stories along the way.
Her grandma has recently died so thats a huge part to her story too. The story itself is told over a week and time stamped throughout and I loved the whole layout of it. Like a diary format but a story. I love Majellas character but she seems stuck in her life at the moment. I really enjoyed it! A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.
The book reminds me of derry girls as stated on the cover, parts had me laughing out loud. There is no covering up here includes sex scenes and adult language. But a brilliant read. Majella does the same things daily in this story but it isn't boring. Majority of the book is set in the chippy she works at with it being a small town she gets everyone through her door and many stories along the way.
Her grandma has recently died so thats a huge part to her story too. The story itself is told over a week and time stamped throughout and I loved the whole layout of it. Like a diary format but a story. I love Majellas character but she seems stuck in her life at the moment. I really enjoyed it! A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.