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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Had to pause it for a while because it was a bit too close to my situation at the time, but this was a phenomenal book and I feel like a better person for having read it.
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Fun read tackling a young messy nyc girlie and her sobriety journey + love life. I wanted to like this more than I did. I felt some of the dialogue was over explanatory but it was a cute story nonetheless just nothing noteworthy.
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Grief
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
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
I was really excited for this book after reading the blurb. I love that while AA is typically treated as cringe in a lot of popular media, this book highlights how integral these communities are to so many recovering alcoholics. It even addresses how dogma can become a problem in some circles and how having agency in your recovery is essential. A story about a woman in her mid-twenties getting sober is important and exciting!
While I liked and sympathized with the main character, I think I expected too much from this novel. Its weak point was the romance plot line; while I found the love interest to be kind and sweet and I loved their chemistry, the movement of their relationship felt contrived, as if the author was trying to come up with ways to keep them from getting together until the second act, and come up with ways to make a fight happen. It didn't feel very natural (esp. the Mitchel subplot?) but at least the obligatory third act conflict was resolved quickly to make way for more compelling stuff.
The strongest part of the book by far was the relationship between Emma and her alcoholic father. The balance of resentment and loss and hate and love; I ached, I cried, I grieved with Emma. This was beautifully done. The horror of becoming your parents is familiar to anyone regardless of addiction. When Emma was talking to her dad about his favorite baseball team and he replied that you don't get to choose your team, you inherit it from your family :'( Waterworks.
Overall, I think what I wanted this book to do was address the issue of getting sober and then finding yourself still struggling with the vices addiction was masking, still acting out, still feeling like "a bad person." I wanted to follow the character's journey as she tried to find out who she was if she wasn't drinking, if she even liked herself without alcohol. The book brushes these subjects, but never dove as deep as I would like. Emma definitely talked about how she used alcohol to numb and how she has trouble letting people in, but I wanted more self-discovery, more epiphanies, more rock bottoms. Again, I think if I'd gone in with no expectations I'd be thrilled with a book that includes recovery at all and I definitely recommend this book and am looking forward to more work from the author!
While I liked and sympathized with the main character, I think I expected too much from this novel. Its weak point was the romance plot line; while I found the love interest to be kind and sweet and I loved their chemistry, the movement of their relationship felt contrived, as if the author was trying to come up with ways to keep them from getting together until the second act, and come up with ways to make a fight happen. It didn't feel very natural (esp. the Mitchel subplot?) but at least the obligatory third act conflict was resolved quickly to make way for more compelling stuff.
The strongest part of the book by far was the relationship between Emma and her alcoholic father. The balance of resentment and loss and hate and love; I ached, I cried, I grieved with Emma. This was beautifully done. The horror of becoming your parents is familiar to anyone regardless of addiction. When Emma was talking to her dad about his favorite baseball team and he replied that you don't get to choose your team, you inherit it from your family :'( Waterworks.
Overall, I think what I wanted this book to do was address the issue of getting sober and then finding yourself still struggling with the vices addiction was masking, still acting out, still feeling like "a bad person." I wanted to follow the character's journey as she tried to find out who she was if she wasn't drinking, if she even liked herself without alcohol. The book brushes these subjects, but never dove as deep as I would like. Emma definitely talked about how she used alcohol to numb and how she has trouble letting people in, but I wanted more self-discovery, more epiphanies, more rock bottoms. Again, I think if I'd gone in with no expectations I'd be thrilled with a book that includes recovery at all and I definitely recommend this book and am looking forward to more work from the author!