Reviews

Not as good as Big Swiss but still really good.

“In her fantasies they never bothered with phone numbers. He just showed up, wordlessly threw her over his shoulder, and then he carried her down a different alley, where they did some violent making out against a brick wall.
“Do you even know my name?” she asked.
He blushed. “I’m convinced it starts with K,” he said.
“M,” she said. “It starts with M.”
“Mommy?”
She laughed. “Mona.”
“Hm,” he said. “Can I call you Mommy instead?”

ghoul_at_home's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.0

gralicia's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad 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

5.0

I absolutely loved this! There were a few dark detours down Mona's memories that were confronting, but important.

I thought the 4 chapters based on different interactions and characters was a great way to pace the book; almost 4 short stories that interwove.

I just read that there is a sequel and I'll be heading out to find it asap!

Content Warnings

laurakfinnegan's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective fast-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

4.5

Content Warnings

caroline21's review against another edition

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4.5

really liked it. Good plot and felt cyclical. also really liked the character, love the way the author writes especially dialogue, and creates interesting worlds

carriepond's review against another edition

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dark funny 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

4.0

The main character in Pretend I'm Dead by Jen Beagin is Mona, a woman in her 20s who works as maid and volunteers with a needle exchange non-profit. It is through the latter that she meets and begins dating an older man, whom she calls "Mr. Disgusting," just as he emerges from rehab. From there, Mona interacts with a varied cast of characters, all the while sifting through her own baggage in moving and weird ways.

I've read Beagin's most recent novel, Big Swiss, and liked it very much, so I knew what I would probably get with this one, her debut. For those who have read Big Swiss, Pretend I'm Dead is similar vibes, and both very much live in a category of book that I am drawn to-- dark but funny character studies of women who are kind of fucked up but somehow remain endearing. I really enjoyed this one.

icunningham's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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