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nenaveenstra's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
This book formed a beautiful portrait of three women throughout various stages of their lives. We follow them through love, lust and loss, while they worry about relationships and children and the state of the world. It is at the same time deeply relatable, as unbelievably foreign to me as a 23 year-old. The things they complain about while being able to afford a house of their own and impromptu trips to Greece is insane to me, but at the same time they discuss feminism and climate change with a sense of urgency that I feel just as much.
Aside from the themes, I was also incredibly moved by the writing in this novel - its poetic nature, and the emotion with which the most mundane situations are put to paper. It felt deeply personal, these little sneak peeks into these women's lives. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is willing to listen.
Aside from the themes, I was also incredibly moved by the writing in this novel - its poetic nature, and the emotion with which the most mundane situations are put to paper. It felt deeply personal, these little sneak peeks into these women's lives. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is willing to listen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Infertility, and Mental illness
Moderate: Pregnancy, Cancer, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Biphobia, Abortion, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual violence and Dementia
lizziewilson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
A very beautifully written book about womanhood, motherhood, growing up and female friendship with all the messiness in between. I felt very empathetic to all the characters despite their actions and behaviour - for me it made them more loveable. I liked how the story wasn't tied up in a neat bow, there is still much left unsaid ans uncertain about the characters' futures and relationships with eachother. It didn't feel ambiguous, but raw and real. Highly recommend, a very thoughtful and compelling read that I found hard to put down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Miscarriage
emilo's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, Infertility, and Classism
annashan's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Infertility
Moderate: Grief
lydiavsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This is a story of 3 women in their 30s: one struggling with motherhood, one with her acting career, and another on her 4th try at IVF. They all lead messy lives with complex relationships while just trying to get through life.
I wish I'd loved this, no plot just women is usually something I'd love but unfortunately I found the characters to be hard to route for: they all did pretty sucky things but without being explored in enough depth for it to be somewhat sympathetic or even really that interesting. Don't get me wrong, normal people making slightly shitty decisions is something I'm absolutely here for, but for me that needs to come with a deeper look at why the characters are doing what they're doing, about their internal experience, their hurt and their growth. This just felt a little lacking for me and possibly a little surface level. Overall I just wish it had said more.
If the writing had been impactful or profound it mightve earned more points for me, but unfortunately I just don't think it had a lasting impression. However I do think this is one that has been unfairly compared to Sally Rooney far too often, as have seemingly the majority of contemporary literary fiction recently. I think this comparison sets the wrong expectations, and doesn't let it be its own thing. This isn't a bad book at all, it didn't work overly well for me but I enjoyed it enough while I was reading it and I think/hope it might work really well for others
I wish I'd loved this, no plot just women is usually something I'd love but unfortunately I found the characters to be hard to route for: they all did pretty sucky things but without being explored in enough depth for it to be somewhat sympathetic or even really that interesting. Don't get me wrong, normal people making slightly shitty decisions is something I'm absolutely here for, but for me that needs to come with a deeper look at why the characters are doing what they're doing, about their internal experience, their hurt and their growth. This just felt a little lacking for me and possibly a little surface level. Overall I just wish it had said more.
If the writing had been impactful or profound it mightve earned more points for me, but unfortunately I just don't think it had a lasting impression. However I do think this is one that has been unfairly compared to Sally Rooney far too often, as have seemingly the majority of contemporary literary fiction recently. I think this comparison sets the wrong expectations, and doesn't let it be its own thing. This isn't a bad book at all, it didn't work overly well for me but I enjoyed it enough while I was reading it and I think/hope it might work really well for others
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Infertility
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
bella_cavicchi's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
On paper, EXPECTATION has all the elements of a true Bella favorite: the focus on female friendships and coming-of-age (or simply: whatever it means to be an adult and a woman), a "slice-of-life" literary plot, poetic and captivating writing, etc. And I can't lie, I did really enjoy the time I spent with Hannah, Cate, and Lissa, the three main characters at the center, and I praise Hope for not being afraid of depicting drifting friendships as a consequence of nothing more than time.
And yet! I am frustrated that we live in a world where women are defined by their proximity (or lack thereof) to motherhood, and I'm saddened that EXPECTATION, however well-written it is, reinforces the idea that I exist to reproduce. True or not as that may be, I was and remain hungry for more nuance.
And yet! I am frustrated that we live in a world where women are defined by their proximity (or lack thereof) to motherhood, and I'm saddened that EXPECTATION, however well-written it is, reinforces the idea that I exist to reproduce. True or not as that may be, I was and remain hungry for more nuance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Infertility
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Minor: Abortion and Alcohol
idahol7221's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Infertility
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Abortion
schorlett's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Mental illness, Death, Cancer, Blood, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion
na_no's review
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Miscarriage
Moderate: Cancer and Infidelity
contemporarymeepsie's review
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I struggled to like this book. All three of the main characters have flaws which is the point I guess but their flaws are irritating. Hannah is self-righteous, Lissa has tunnel vision, Cate is careless and selfish. All these are perfectly acceptable flaws but I don't feel like the reasons they state are very relatable or delved in to particularly well. They all feel like quite flat characters. I will give the author credit that although I didn't find two of her characters relatable I was hooked by one of the stories which meant that I wanted to keep reading. Nothing much happened but the pacing was okay.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Infertility
Minor: Cancer, Abortion, and Sexual violence