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1.49k reviews for:
Early Morning Riser: The bittersweet, hilarious and feel-good new novel from the author of Standard Deviation
Katherine Heiny, Katherine Heiny
3.57 AVERAGE
1.49k reviews for:
Early Morning Riser: The bittersweet, hilarious and feel-good new novel from the author of Standard Deviation
Katherine Heiny, Katherine Heiny
3.57 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
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
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-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
LOVED this book! Looked at the intricacies of everyday life in a way that made me want to keep turning pages
I did not find these characters engaging enough or that likeable to continue reading. I did not like this book and chose not to finish it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a tender, beautifully written story of small-town life over 2 decades. It doesn't have much of a plot other than "characters going to each other's houses," à la that one Jane Austen book review, but the characters are charming despite their flaws and the descriptions of the setting are lovely and evocative ("The sky was striped with every flavor of sherbet — raspberry, orange, peach, lemon — and every stripe was reflected in the lake. The sun peeked over the horizon slowly, slowly, growing to a shimmering gold oval that trembled for a moment, heavy, gravid — like a giant egg yolk that would fall forward and fry itself on the silver pan of Lake Charlevoix.")
The story has a sense of melancholy about it, a particular flavor of melancholy that comes with recognizing that your life isn't what you expected it would be, but being able to find joy and sweetness in it anyway. I wish that the author had delved into that a bit more by fleshing out the characters and their thoughts and feelings; overall, it had some room for improvement but was still a really enjoyable read.
The story has a sense of melancholy about it, a particular flavor of melancholy that comes with recognizing that your life isn't what you expected it would be, but being able to find joy and sweetness in it anyway. I wish that the author had delved into that a bit more by fleshing out the characters and their thoughts and feelings; overall, it had some room for improvement but was still a really enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Sexual content