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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
I don’t know this was a pretty good book. More character heavy but really well written. I love Kiley Reid’s writing style so I think I just go into a reading slump with this one and found it hard to get out of. I was enjoying picking it up but I didn’t feel overly invested in the plot and felt like when I put it down I could have read a whole book. The fact that I dnfed it isn’t really at much fault of the book I just picked up a slow paced book at the wrong time. I might pick this back up in future.
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The main character, Millie, is probably the only character with integrity here. However she kind of loses sight of herself and her values during a time when she's coming into adulthood. She makes some careless mistakes and embarrasses herself, loses a job some integrity.
The most poignant thing about the story to me is that Millie is sort of punished at the end, when the people around her are far worse, and have behaved far worse than she has. Everyone else sort of walks away unscathed, while Millie has to deal with the fallout.
The most poignant thing about the story to me is that Millie is sort of punished at the end, when the people around her are far worse, and have behaved far worse than she has. Everyone else sort of walks away unscathed, while Millie has to deal with the fallout.
emotional
reflective
medium-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
I really wanted to like this book because I loved the author's work in "Such a Fun Age". This book was nothing like that one. The book takes place at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and centers on the dorm for transfer students ("Belgrade"), which is apparently not a desirable place to live. Millie is the RA and Peyton, Kennedy, Tyler, Casey, and Jenna are students in the dorm. Throw in visiting professor Agatha Paul, fellow RAs Collette and Ryland and Joanie, Residence Life staff Josh and Aimee and I think you've got everyone.
Which leads to my first gripe with this book. There are too many characters. I was so confused who was who. You get a lot of background on the characters, but it's all essentially meaningless because there's no plot bringing it all together. The story goes back and forth so much too that by the time you get back to someone you've forgotten who they are.
Second, these characters were all completely unbelievable to me. I had to keep reminding myself that this was supposed to be taking place at a college. The students were so immature and scattered, it seemed much more like a high school setting to me. I just couldn't connect with any of them.
Then there's the dialogue. I don't know what it was, but I felt like I actually couldn't follow some of the conversations. I didn't understand what they were saying and I couldn't tell who was talking sometimes.
The book started off promising with visiting professor Agatha Paul interviewing three of the students in RA Millie's dorm. Agatha learned a lot about the girls and became intrigued by their attitudes toward money and their seemingly privileged lives. But then the book veers off and never really gets back on track.
This was definitely a miss for me, but I will keep an eye on this author as I think she shows a lot of promise. Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Which leads to my first gripe with this book. There are too many characters. I was so confused who was who. You get a lot of background on the characters, but it's all essentially meaningless because there's no plot bringing it all together. The story goes back and forth so much too that by the time you get back to someone you've forgotten who they are.
Second, these characters were all completely unbelievable to me. I had to keep reminding myself that this was supposed to be taking place at a college. The students were so immature and scattered, it seemed much more like a high school setting to me. I just couldn't connect with any of them.
Then there's the dialogue. I don't know what it was, but I felt like I actually couldn't follow some of the conversations. I didn't understand what they were saying and I couldn't tell who was talking sometimes.
The book started off promising with visiting professor Agatha Paul interviewing three of the students in RA Millie's dorm. Agatha learned a lot about the girls and became intrigued by their attitudes toward money and their seemingly privileged lives. But then the book veers off and never really gets back on track.
This was definitely a miss for me, but I will keep an eye on this author as I think she shows a lot of promise. Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
A great audiobook – quirky set of diverse characters – definitely worth a read
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i liked this book. it was slow at first and kind of hard to tell the point. i’m not sure i get the point but the book was definitely enjoyable. the characters were complex and flawed. it felt like falling into a snapshot of someone else’s life, like hearing a gossip story of a pivotal point in a friend’s life.
Millie is working as an RA and she’s trying to save up to buy a house. Agatha is a successful author and researcher who just got out of a long term relationship and is running away a bit. Agatha does an interview with some residents in Millie’s dorm and, fascinated by their lives, comes to an arrangement with Millie where she sits in her dorm room and eavesdrops on the girls living next door. Agatha spends the book in an ethical gray zone but quickly crosses the boundary into unethical. She publishes “interviews” with the girls based on their overheard conversations and without their consent. She sleeps with Millie, trying to convince herself that there wasn’t an inherent power imbalance because Millie initiated. Millie loses herself in this situationship with Agatha and neglects her RA duties, leading to the eventual climax of the book where her residents have a crisis while she’s in her room hooking up with Agatha, and didn’t pay enough attention to mitigate the crisis before it happens.
Again, I’m not sure I get the point, other than that people are flawed and complex. But this book was entertaining and I’m glad I read it.
Millie is working as an RA and she’s trying to save up to buy a house. Agatha is a successful author and researcher who just got out of a long term relationship and is running away a bit. Agatha does an interview with some residents in Millie’s dorm and, fascinated by their lives, comes to an arrangement with Millie where she sits in her dorm room and eavesdrops on the girls living next door. Agatha spends the book in an ethical gray zone but quickly crosses the boundary into unethical. She publishes “interviews” with the girls based on their overheard conversations and without their consent. She sleeps with Millie, trying to convince herself that there wasn’t an inherent power imbalance because Millie initiated. Millie loses herself in this situationship with Agatha and neglects her RA duties, leading to the eventual climax of the book where her residents have a crisis while she’s in her room hooking up with Agatha, and didn’t pay enough attention to mitigate the crisis before it happens.
Again, I’m not sure I get the point, other than that people are flawed and complex. But this book was entertaining and I’m glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-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