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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Oh my god, I haven't read a book like this EVER. This book just got me, everything from the experience of being a childless and unmarried woman in her late-twenties/early thirties, to being in an unhappy relationship yet scared to leave it, down to being a vegetarian and constantly being offered friggin' goats cheese! It's an instant favourite. Don't get me wrong, it's not an easy read, in fact it's quite brutal in it's honesty as our main character Tori is deeply unhappy and desperately pretending not to be. But it's just fantastic, especially if you're someone who is at that age where everyone around you seems to have their sh*t figured out and you're there asking yourself "what the f*ck do I do now?", plus there's some moments of genuine hilarity to lighten to mood.
I'll be honest though, if you are someone who is living a life of domestic bliss, you'll probably want to skip this. Tori is quite scathing about the "mummy crowd" and I don't think you'd get the same "oh my god, I'm not alone" feeling that I got. However if you're looking for a modern day Bridget Jones, look no further!
I'll be honest though, if you are someone who is living a life of domestic bliss, you'll probably want to skip this. Tori is quite scathing about the "mummy crowd" and I don't think you'd get the same "oh my god, I'm not alone" feeling that I got. However if you're looking for a modern day Bridget Jones, look no further!
A pertinent look at the discrepancy between what influencers present online and their reality. Lots of humour built in to a book that I'm sure resonates with a great deal of women.
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a hard one for me. It took me ages to get into the book and then I felt it all a little too close to home, so I think it evoked feelings in me I wasn’t expecting. I enjoyed it nevertheless and the overall message was very relevant. I did find myself because increasingly annoyed with the main character and her relationship, but can completely relate to the way she was feeling too. A good book overall.
3.5/5 is a more accurate rating
***There are some spoilers ahead***
Being of a similar age (well, perhaps slightly older ;) to the protagonist I found this very relatable
Also, I don't have any kids of my own, I'm in a relationship where we're not getting married etc. so yeah, lots of potential similarities, and this gets a thumbs up
This is also very in-style with all of Holly's other works, where the MC realises her self worth and breaks free from the 'I need to find The One to make me happy' mind-set, and learns to love herself yadayada
But!... I have to say that the ending? I just didn't feel it!... it fell totally flat and I just wanted... more? There was so much build up with Tori and Tom and it was like, oh, was that it? there were so many loose ends that didn't get resolved!... I guess that's real life but, that's not necessarily what I was hoping for... nevermind... I still love Bourne's writing, it's funny and charming and real and I will definitely not stop reading her books, this one was just not my favourite
***There are some spoilers ahead***
Being of a similar age (well, perhaps slightly older ;) to the protagonist I found this very relatable
Also, I don't have any kids of my own, I'm in a relationship where we're not getting married etc. so yeah, lots of potential similarities, and this gets a thumbs up
This is also very in-style with all of Holly's other works, where the MC realises her self worth and breaks free from the 'I need to find The One to make me happy' mind-set, and learns to love herself yadayada
But!... I have to say that the ending? I just didn't feel it!... it fell totally flat and I just wanted... more? There was so much build up with Tori and Tom and it was like, oh, was that it? there were so many loose ends that didn't get resolved!... I guess that's real life but, that's not necessarily what I was hoping for... nevermind... I still love Bourne's writing, it's funny and charming and real and I will definitely not stop reading her books, this one was just not my favourite
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lots of trigger warnings for this book tbh please read with caution it was truly a disturbing read!
This book was just incredibly difficult to read not just because of the toxic relationship and emotional abuse which made me so angry and frustrated and sad because I know someone going through the same thing and I can’t scream at her to LEAVE HIM every time we speak but yeah anyways TORI HERSELF being so JEALOUS and ENVIOUS and FAKE and okay I am so glad she finally got therapy and started working through her problems but it wasn’t enough for me to see her grow etc
Yeah I am so glad she finally was brave enough to say no more and leave Tom! But her self destructive behaviour was so hard to read and I wanted to see her grow more rather than it just end with her leaving him and YES SWITCHING HER PHONE OFF like no social media and notifications and pretending your life is perfect NEWSFLASH NO ONE’s LIFE IS PERFECT?! YOU CANNOT BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME!!!
Tori annoyed me so much and this book just made me so angry not just at the men but how Tori thought she was better than everyone also the fact that none of her behaviours were addressed HAHA SHE HAS AN EATING DISORDER AND IT’s fine coz being fat is the worst thing you could be and getting wrinkles and using filters and never not wearing make up and Idek who is she tryna prove she has it together to? Honestly and being in the limelight and lying to everyone including yourself about how happy and SUCCESSFUL you are coz you are in a long term relationship?
Honestly why would anyone want to be her friend if she is so damn jealous all the time? She can’t even be happy for other people? Jealousy is a disease absolutely vile an disgusting to see it truly terrified me this book! They’re all clearly ‘fake happy’ smh like I think the character I liked most was Dee and Sandy!
Also the whole White Feminism nonsense and urgh so many things annoyed me I don’t even know what to rate this book or how to rate it!
So sad coz I love her YA books but this adult book was just idk it scared me tbh not about emotional abuse coz I know that is a reality but TORI HERSELF BEING SUCH A JEALOUS PRRSON SICK WITH ENVY that is what is eating at you Tori smh
But truly no one has it figured out we are all just winging it stop obsessing over other people and focus on your life plz!
Anyways the book is called How Do You Like Me Now and I don’t like you Tori but I am so proud of you for finally leaving Tom! Love that for you!
This book was just incredibly difficult to read not just because of the toxic relationship and emotional abuse which made me so angry and frustrated and sad because I know someone going through the same thing and I can’t scream at her to LEAVE HIM every time we speak but yeah anyways TORI HERSELF being so JEALOUS and ENVIOUS and FAKE and okay I am so glad she finally got therapy and started working through her problems but it wasn’t enough for me to see her grow etc
Yeah I am so glad she finally was brave enough to say no more and leave Tom! But her self destructive behaviour was so hard to read and I wanted to see her grow more rather than it just end with her leaving him and YES SWITCHING HER PHONE OFF like no social media and notifications and pretending your life is perfect NEWSFLASH NO ONE’s LIFE IS PERFECT?! YOU CANNOT BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME!!!
Tori annoyed me so much and this book just made me so angry not just at the men but how Tori thought she was better than everyone also the fact that none of her behaviours were addressed HAHA SHE HAS AN EATING DISORDER AND IT’s fine coz being fat is the worst thing you could be and getting wrinkles and using filters and never not wearing make up and Idek who is she tryna prove she has it together to? Honestly and being in the limelight and lying to everyone including yourself about how happy and SUCCESSFUL you are coz you are in a long term relationship?
Honestly why would anyone want to be her friend if she is so damn jealous all the time? She can’t even be happy for other people? Jealousy is a disease absolutely vile an disgusting to see it truly terrified me this book! They’re all clearly ‘fake happy’ smh like I think the character I liked most was Dee and Sandy!
Also the whole White Feminism nonsense and urgh so many things annoyed me I don’t even know what to rate this book or how to rate it!
So sad coz I love her YA books but this adult book was just idk it scared me tbh not about emotional abuse coz I know that is a reality but TORI HERSELF BEING SUCH A JEALOUS PRRSON SICK WITH ENVY that is what is eating at you Tori smh
But truly no one has it figured out we are all just winging it stop obsessing over other people and focus on your life plz!
Anyways the book is called How Do You Like Me Now and I don’t like you Tori but I am so proud of you for finally leaving Tom! Love that for you!
emotional
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:
Yes
What a book! I never read a mixture of a book that both helped and confronted me. But oh boy, it do feels so, so good to be seen, to hear that the things you've experienced and might've doubted are true and legitimate.
However, the book features some triggering scenes concerning food and also hightened criticism of self and others. While the latter one was a reminder to me that I still have a way ahead of speaking more kindly to myself, I realise that it can be very triggering. So be aware of that!
However, the book features some triggering scenes concerning food and also hightened criticism of self and others. While the latter one was a reminder to me that I still have a way ahead of speaking more kindly to myself, I realise that it can be very triggering. So be aware of that!
2.5 stars
Coming off reading the most sense and detailed biography of my life, I needed an easy read and this delivered that.
That being said. I can’t help but being a little disappointed with this one. The plot synopsis is about Tori, our protagonist, being in a dead end relationship, living a lie online and her friend Dee falling madly in love. Other than Dee’s pregnancy. This is the whole plot. None of which is resolved until the last 10 pages and then it doesn’t even feel like the character has truly grown.
Tori is a very difficult protagonist to route for, while we all have our moments of hating our looks, feeling inadequate and jealous - I think the level of hatred towards her own friends is hard to get on board with. She really truly does pick and choose when she is a feminist - props to her for going on that panel and talking about how many “equal” relationships are anywhere near that but she literally has no sympathy for any of the women in her life, is obsessed with being prettier than them and literally relishes in their misery. Also the hymen comment!! (iYKYK)
The saving grace of the book is that Tom, her partner, is irredeemably worse, and that’s what kept me reading. I wanted to see her tear him to shreds, for gaslighting her, for taking advantage of her and for not moving on when he should’ve.
Which is why the ending is so disappointing because she just says I love you very much but we aren’t happy anymore - that’s not even half of it!
Finally on the pregnancy and kids - I feel like what Dee says at the end comes out of nowhere. i get her colleague foreshadowed it, but it truly tars all women with the same brush that once they’re pregnant they lose themselves completely and I just think that’s a bad message. Do I think there’s women out there who become mothers and then condescend those who aren’t - OMG YES!! But Dee is not that person, she does not change through her pregnancy at all! And I think it’s swept under the rug that Tori basically says well I don’t need a baby I have a career, and says her friend is “just a teacher”.
Hot take - I don’t understand why Tori wants a baby (or says so at the end) because she is SO unbelievably self absorbed I find it hard to believe she’d be able to look after another human being.
As I’ve said all that negative stuff, I will say I did find it very funny. While Tori’s reactions to things annoyed me, the scenarios themselves were incredibly relatable.
I think I’d quite like to read this book from Dee’s perspective?
Coming off reading the most sense and detailed biography of my life, I needed an easy read and this delivered that.
That being said. I can’t help but being a little disappointed with this one. The plot synopsis is about Tori, our protagonist, being in a dead end relationship, living a lie online and her friend Dee falling madly in love. Other than Dee’s pregnancy. This is the whole plot. None of which is resolved until the last 10 pages and then it doesn’t even feel like the character has truly grown.
Tori is a very difficult protagonist to route for, while we all have our moments of hating our looks, feeling inadequate and jealous - I think the level of hatred towards her own friends is hard to get on board with. She really truly does pick and choose when she is a feminist - props to her for going on that panel and talking about how many “equal” relationships are anywhere near that but she literally has no sympathy for any of the women in her life, is obsessed with being prettier than them and literally relishes in their misery. Also the hymen comment!! (iYKYK)
The saving grace of the book is that Tom, her partner, is irredeemably worse, and that’s what kept me reading. I wanted to see her tear him to shreds, for gaslighting her, for taking advantage of her and for not moving on when he should’ve.
Which is why the ending is so disappointing because she just says I love you very much but we aren’t happy anymore - that’s not even half of it!
Finally on the pregnancy and kids - I feel like what Dee says at the end comes out of nowhere. i get her colleague foreshadowed it, but it truly tars all women with the same brush that once they’re pregnant they lose themselves completely and I just think that’s a bad message. Do I think there’s women out there who become mothers and then condescend those who aren’t - OMG YES!! But Dee is not that person, she does not change through her pregnancy at all! And I think it’s swept under the rug that Tori basically says well I don’t need a baby I have a career, and says her friend is “just a teacher”.
Hot take - I don’t understand why Tori wants a baby (or says so at the end) because she is SO unbelievably self absorbed I find it hard to believe she’d be able to look after another human being.
As I’ve said all that negative stuff, I will say I did find it very funny. While Tori’s reactions to things annoyed me, the scenarios themselves were incredibly relatable.
I think I’d quite like to read this book from Dee’s perspective?