287 reviews for:

Oleander: A Great Expectations Retelling

Scarlett Drake

4.56 AVERAGE

shion14's review

5.0

hopeful sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

queer_books_and_kitties's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

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This is just one of those books that I know will live in my head and heart for a very long time.

The writing style is so beautiful and timeless. I felt every emotion so deeply and watched every scene in my head like it was a film rather than an audiobook. The narrator also helped bring it to life perfectly. The way each character was described and voiced just seemed to fit so well with the writing style. It’s not just the beautiful descriptive details that pulled me in, it’s the interesting way that it flicks between past present. I also loved the way that little snippets of information about characters’ futures are threaded through the main story so that we know who gets their own happily ever afters.

Jude was a beautiful mc and the first person perspective worked perfectly. I’m really glad that I listened to this rather than read it because the way we as the reader are guided through Jude’s thoughts and feelings just seemed to work so seamlessly. When he gradually realises things, when his moods change, how he processes information… it was just all amazing!

Cas is a very engaging love interest. Even when he treats Jude so horribly in the beginning, I couldn’t help feeling intrigued by him. He’s hard to love at times but he never stopped being interesting.

I’m also kind of in love with Luke and Bast they were absolutely part of the reason this book has instantly become one of my top read of the year so far.

Overall it’s fair to say I’m pretty in love with this book and I’ll definitely need to check out more from this author!

scottjeffe's review against another edition

5.0

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I have no idea why this is a “Great Expectations” retelling, but it was a nice gay novel.

t_m_barnes's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful tense slow-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

lydiashigley's review

4.25

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

clairemarge's review

4.0

emotional medium-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

fluffykittensbitefishes's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

twitcheye's review

4.75

dark emotional sad medium-paced

mm_twenty_four_seven's review

5.0

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

svea_ni13's review

4.0

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated