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themandimonster's review against another edition
3.0
The main character, William, reminds me of an amalgam of so many of my exes. The story itself left a little to be desired, but it wasn't a bad story. The ending was left kind of open, but not in an entirely unsatisfying way.
yasy_yasy16's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed this at the beginning, but as the story went on I started to hate the main character. It is well written and the perfect length for a story like this.
bookedbaby's review against another edition
4.0
Ethan hawke is a romantic man. I know very little about him but I feel like I know this? I am a huge fan of his work, especially Juliet, Naked which isn’t even if most well-known. His voice just oozes romance and to read a book by him, I only heard it through his voice. I imagined him as William. He’s all I could picture. He actually writes so beautifully. I truly wondered if these were his real thoughts? I always like male authors for some insight into a mans mind and peaking into Ethans mind was a beautiful thing. Strange but beautiful. This book really ensured me that men are bad with their feelings. I feel like they can’t help it? Emotions freak them out. William couldn’t handle rejection well but a lot of it had to do with his Daddy issues. I felt bad for him. I don’t think I like Sarah. She would never allow herself to feel but I do agree the relationship became pretty toxic so it was good they ended it. Ethan Hawke has much more depth than I’d ever imagined.
sophiao's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I just found it dull with fleeting moments of aw
maebarron's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Minor: Fatphobia
scotsedley's review against another edition
1.0
I almost always give Ethan Hawke a pass. I really like him in most film roles. And the ones I don't like him in, I let those slide due to the ones I do like. When I heard that he's directing a film based on this book, I thought I'd give it a read. But, it's awful. Dick-Lit of the worse kind. The conversational tone of the book isn't that bad. The characters are just uninteresting at best and deplorable at worst. Still, I'm curious to see the movie...
profbeards's review against another edition
3.0
I thought the pace of this novel was excellent (200 pages in about 3 hours). While it lacked serious depth outside of the narrator/protagonist, I felt that it did a decent job at times of representing mid-nineties angst at adulthood. It basically reads like every Ethan Hawke part/movie from the 90's, which is not all that bad. For a first novel, it is good. Not great, but good.
hellsbell's review against another edition
4.0
read this in a few hours and loved it. was a little difficult to get into, but well worth the effort.
I liked how both William and Sarah were so easy to like and dislike in equal measures.
the story is a simple one... the birth, falling apart and aftermath of a relationship. it is written with heart and a sense of sincerity and authenticity which made it so readable.
I had read Ash Wednesday by Ethan Hawke previously and loved that too. I am certainly looking forward to reading more by him!
I liked how both William and Sarah were so easy to like and dislike in equal measures.
the story is a simple one... the birth, falling apart and aftermath of a relationship. it is written with heart and a sense of sincerity and authenticity which made it so readable.
I had read Ash Wednesday by Ethan Hawke previously and loved that too. I am certainly looking forward to reading more by him!
nancykz's review against another edition
5.0
Yeah, yeah, yeah... people regularly rip this overly achy bit of fiction to shreds. But not me. I love every word. And I have since the first time I read it. It's a regular read for me, every few years I pull out my copy and indulge. Generally over the course of a single day. I even carried around my copy at Sundance this past February on the off chance I ran into Ethan Hawke. I didn't.