Scan barcode
jhreads21's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
amandamarie85's review against another edition
3.0
The cat was like 30 years old, which was weird lol
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
I like Emma Straub’s writing, quite a bit. So I was unsurprised that I liked it here, too. I’m not the only one to have noticed that there is a growing number of books about time travel to revisit/fix your past (How to Live Safely…, Dark Matter), or some kind of afterlife where you get another chance to figure out what you missed or did wrong in your life (Midnight Library, Under the Whispering Door). This one is absorbing and easy to read, but it’s a little unsteady on its feet. In the beginning it’s hard to tell exactly where Straub is headed—I remember thinking at one point if she’s trying to make us think Alice has a drab, disappointing life, she’s not doing a very good job of it. Then once Alice is whisked back to the past, we spend way too long on a single day when she was sixteen—which wouldn’t be a problem except ensuing trips back to the past are given short shrift by comparison.
There are two relationships that make the book work— the relationship between Alice and her dad, and the one between Alice and her best friend Sam. The ending does justice to those two relationships but there are a whole lot of questions left unanswered (wait, what happened with Melinda? How did Sam know some of the things she knew? And what was the deal about Ursula? for starters). If you can turn off the part of your mind that wants to understand what is going on, this is a fun, interesting story. I was thoroughly absorbed. But it ended up being not quite as meaningful as I was hoping it would be.
There are two relationships that make the book work— the relationship between Alice and her dad, and the one between Alice and her best friend Sam. The ending does justice to those two relationships but there are a whole lot of questions left unanswered (wait, what happened with Melinda? How did Sam know some of the things she knew? And what was the deal about Ursula? for starters). If you can turn off the part of your mind that wants to understand what is going on, this is a fun, interesting story. I was thoroughly absorbed. But it ended up being not quite as meaningful as I was hoping it would be.
suelu13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
4.0
angelaac's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
lyssamarie's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
this wasn’t a bad book at all—it just wasn’t for me. had i not been reading this for book club, i probably would’ve dnf’ed. i felt it was too slow and i didn’t connect with the main character in any way. i felt distanced from her and the story itself. again, it wasn’t bad, just wasn’t for me.
ashleync7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? N/A
4.25
sararose_cozy's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
I’m only docking the half star because the beginning dragged and it took over 100 (e-book) pages to know what the story was about (because I’m an avid blind reader).
Any story about a daughter and her dad will sucker punch me in the gut. Hits too close.
This is a new story that reminds me of 13 going on 30 (in reverse) meets Big meets About Time.
Once I knew what the story was about, I couldn’t wait to get back to reading and finding out what happens next. Once I hit that 100 page mark, I thought I knew exactly how it would end and wasn’t excited. However, that’s not what happens. And the time-travel isn’t about the meaning of it. Ugh, if books made me cry, this one would do it.
I’m only docking the half star because the beginning dragged and it took over 100 (e-book) pages to know what the story was about (because I’m an avid blind reader).
Any story about a daughter and her dad will sucker punch me in the gut. Hits too close.
This is a new story that reminds me of 13 going on 30 (in reverse) meets Big meets About Time.
Once I knew what the story was about, I couldn’t wait to get back to reading and finding out what happens next. Once I hit that 100 page mark, I thought I knew exactly how it would end and wasn’t excited. However, that’s not what happens. And the time-travel isn’t about the meaning of it. Ugh, if books made me cry, this one would do it.