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saffyjadd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book feels like a fever dream. The manic-pixie artist struggles with the darkness that hovers over everything she does. When she meets older, alcohol-loving, fun guy Frank they explode in a fever dream of drugs and parties and attempted domesticity.
Just to say, I enjoyed this book. I was compelled to keep reading, I wanted to know what happened. I didn't love every aspect of it, for example, the characters (who are decently explored - most named characters get at least one of their own perspective chapters) are mostly horrendously cliched. Cleo's best friend, Quentin, for example, is a gay man addicted to drugs, dabbles in promiscuity and toxic relationships and gender presentation. Santiago, the gentle, overweight friend who loves to cook and hates how he looks. Anders, the aging model who sleeps with literally everyone without ever seeing them as human. It feels a little clumsy and I would've enjoyed a bit more complexity from them. The main exception being Eleanor, a character introduced tremendously in a montage-of-sorts chapter of her first day at her new job, who is a delight to read and root for.
Frank's seemingly endless supply of money from his ad agency conveniently assuages all of the money problems in the novel. Even when characters are "broke", their financial safety doesn't ever feel at risk. Zoe comes the closest to true poverty, but even then, we see it's because she doesn't want to ask for help, rather than having no feasible avenues.
I enjoy later when Frank challenges his notion that Cleo is a good artist merely because she's tortured enough to be. I did not find redemption in Cleo's character and, in fact, she's the character who declined most for me in terms of likeability. Her final "art" piece is not bad as it is. Making Frank experience it is a punch to the face of her possible redemption.
The book is hinged upon the reader believing this unbreakable bond between the two main characters, this undeniable draw and relation. And yet, save for about 2 hours, the first 6 months of their getting to know one another happens entirely off-page. This works for world building, but in a book that relies so heavily on the importance of the central relationship, it feels lazy and half-baked. Show me that they can't live without each other, don't tell me.
Graphic: Self harm and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
imalittlechili's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Violence
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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Vomit
xbernadette's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Abandonment, and Classism
josxphinchen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
mlf1021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
going to be thinking about it for a while. I didn’t like the first chapter at all but I’m glad I saw it through. There were a few parts of the book I felt to be unnecessarily violent and graphic
accept the mistakes and still love the characters because I came to that by myself. Overall a great read.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
lunaschu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Death of parent
muffhealy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt
angelaaaa's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
katesmithfilm'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: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape and Violence