Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wonder if I might have had a different reaction to this novel were I five or ten years younger....but that being said, I related to a lot of this book regardless. Particularly the whole not being allowed an opinion on child rearing/behaviour of a child if you don’t have one yourself 😳 I also related to feeling trapped in a relationship where you know you aren’t happy anymore but are too scared to admit it (but I did find the drawing out of that a bit infuriating. I really wanted to find out what happened after the break up....because you always knew they were going to!). For me that’s where the story would really get interesting.....but then I would say that 😉
Despite not quite buying into every aspect of the story, I did enjoy it very much - it’s compelling and very interesting, and quite funny in parts too. I think there need to be more books like this, that call out a lot of society’s bullshit expectations and the way women are expected to accomplish certain things by a certain age. Social media, as Bourne points out in some wickedly funny parts, doesn’t help! And the end is very satisfying indeed, and makes you wonder about your own need for validation of your choices, and a great reminder that what your life feels like is more important than what it looks like.
Despite not quite buying into every aspect of the story, I did enjoy it very much - it’s compelling and very interesting, and quite funny in parts too. I think there need to be more books like this, that call out a lot of society’s bullshit expectations and the way women are expected to accomplish certain things by a certain age. Social media, as Bourne points out in some wickedly funny parts, doesn’t help! And the end is very satisfying indeed, and makes you wonder about your own need for validation of your choices, and a great reminder that what your life feels like is more important than what it looks like.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is not how I thought it would turn out which I like, when you can't predict how it's going to go. I found the main characters choices annoying but relatable that sometimes you feel stuck or that the red flags are fogged by all the fond memories. Overall I liked this book, had me laughing a few times. I liked the main character's wit and it did have a happy ending in a controversial way. I was intrigued by how it would all pan out so it did keep me reading.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
This is the second book I have read by Holly Bourne. She is now a favourite author of mine!
This book had me laughing out loud at parts.
I took and instant dislike to Tom, what an arse he is! I was willing Tori to leave so many times whilst reading this and I'm so glad that in the end she did.
This book had me laughing out loud at parts.
I took and instant dislike to Tom, what an arse he is! I was willing Tori to leave so many times whilst reading this and I'm so glad that in the end she did.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this isn't usually the genre i go for, but i found that i actually enjoyed it quite a bit in the end. tori is an author and a motivational speaker who actually is secretly miserable and stuck in what she doesn't yet realise is an emotionally abusive relationship. i found that the writing does quite a lot of the heavy lifting here; this book would not have been nearly as engaging if tori's voice wasn't so distinct and vibrant. she feels like a believable #girlboss who secretly doesn't believe any of the shit she's peddling, and i actually found her inner monologue a relief. i think that her thoughts, particularly with the "right way" to be a woman, represent the difficulties of knowing the right thing to do/say but being unable to internalise it. like, self love and body positivity is easy to preach on social media, but it's another more private/personal journey to be able to truly believe it off line. i also liked tori's struggle with wanting children: does she actually want kids or does she just feel pressured by all her friends starting to have kids in her thirties?
overall, a pretty decent contemporary fiction about societal expectations, social media, and loving yourself enough to leave.
overall, a pretty decent contemporary fiction about societal expectations, social media, and loving yourself enough to leave.