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bisexualbookshelf's review
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Emily Austin’s "Interesting Facts About Space" introduces readers to the quirky, anxiety-ridden, and darkly humorous character of Enid. From the very first pages, Enid’s personality leaps off the page, captivating readers with her relatable fears and unique coping mechanisms. While the book grapples with complex themes like PTSD and autism, it also dives into the emotional intricacies of human relationships and personal growth.
Enid’s character is a rich tapestry of contradictions. Her anxiety and dark humor make her both relatable and compelling, while her paranoia and morally dubious choices—like having an affair with another woman’s wife—add layers of complexity. Austin’s portrayal of Enid’s struggle to navigate her various roles to appear 'normal' is particularly poignant and indicative of autistic traits, which resonates deeply with neurodivergent readers.
One of the most touching aspects of the novel is Enid's relationship with her mother. This bond provides a stabilizing force in Enid’s tumultuous life, highlighting the importance of familial support in the face of mental health challenges. The depiction of Enid’s mother’s grief and her efforts to raise a disabled, neurodivergent child on her own adds a layer of emotional depth to the story.
The narrative’s structure, however, is a bit uneven. The first third of the book feels overloaded with various subplots—Enid's half-sisters, her job, her mother, her paranoia, her self-loathing, and her dating life. This initially makes the story feel disjointed and slow to start. Yet, once the focus sharpens,particularly around the second date with Polly when Joan appears , the pace and tension build effectively.
While the book excels in many areas, it also stumbles in some significant ways.The subplot involving Vin, who secretly stalks Enid under the guise of concern, is particularly problematic. This revelation feels like an unnecessary twist that undermines the book’s earlier achievements. Vin's actions, which include gaslighting and dismissing Enid’s fears, are deeply troubling and, for some readers, can overshadow the book’s positive aspects.
Another point of contention is the portrayal of Cognitive Reprocessing Therapy (CRT). As a trauma therapist in training, I find this therapy controversial due to its potential to retraumatize patients by forcing them to confront walled-off memories. While Austin’s representation might be accurate to her or Enid’s experience, it risks misleading readers about the general efficacy and safety of such treatments.
In summary, "Interesting Facts About Space" shines in its representation of autism and PTSD, and its exploration of Enid's inner world and relationships. The dark humor and unique quirks of Enid’s character are major strengths. However, the problematic subplot with Vin and the contentious depiction of therapy methods detract from the overall impact. Despite these flaws, Austin's ability to create a deeply felt, introspective narrative makes this book a worthwhile read for those interested in complex, character-driven stories.
📖 Recommended For: Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives, Fans of dark humor and quirky characters, Admirers of psychological and emotional depth, Those interested in autism and PTSD representation, Lovers of intricate and metaphorical storytelling.
🔑 Key Themes: Mental Health and Coping Mechanisms, Familial Relationships and Support, Paranoia and Intuition, Self-Discovery and Personal Growth, Autistic and PTSD Experiences.
Enid’s character is a rich tapestry of contradictions. Her anxiety and dark humor make her both relatable and compelling, while her paranoia and morally dubious choices—like having an affair with another woman’s wife—add layers of complexity. Austin’s portrayal of Enid’s struggle to navigate her various roles to appear 'normal' is particularly poignant and indicative of autistic traits, which resonates deeply with neurodivergent readers.
One of the most touching aspects of the novel is Enid's relationship with her mother. This bond provides a stabilizing force in Enid’s tumultuous life, highlighting the importance of familial support in the face of mental health challenges. The depiction of Enid’s mother’s grief and her efforts to raise a disabled, neurodivergent child on her own adds a layer of emotional depth to the story.
The narrative’s structure, however, is a bit uneven. The first third of the book feels overloaded with various subplots—Enid's half-sisters, her job, her mother, her paranoia, her self-loathing, and her dating life. This initially makes the story feel disjointed and slow to start. Yet, once the focus sharpens,
While the book excels in many areas, it also stumbles in some significant ways.
Another point of contention is the portrayal of Cognitive Reprocessing Therapy (CRT). As a trauma therapist in training, I find this therapy controversial due to its potential to retraumatize patients by forcing them to confront walled-off memories. While Austin’s representation might be accurate to her or Enid’s experience, it risks misleading readers about the general efficacy and safety of such treatments.
In summary, "Interesting Facts About Space" shines in its representation of autism and PTSD, and its exploration of Enid's inner world and relationships. The dark humor and unique quirks of Enid’s character are major strengths. However, the problematic subplot
📖 Recommended For: Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives, Fans of dark humor and quirky characters, Admirers of psychological and emotional depth, Those interested in autism and PTSD representation, Lovers of intricate and metaphorical storytelling.
🔑 Key Themes: Mental Health and Coping Mechanisms, Familial Relationships and Support, Paranoia and Intuition, Self-Discovery and Personal Growth, Autistic and PTSD Experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Bullying
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt and Self harm
dev921's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Grief, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail
spec_tacles's review
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Homophobia, Stalking, and Grief
dogswithnogs's review against another edition
challenging
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Stalking
katiewhocanread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Ableism, Bullying, Stalking, Mental illness, and Homophobia
Minor: Self harm, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Suicide attempt
heartlibraries's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!
- Sometimes the best lesbian romance novels aren't marketed as romances at all
- I love Enid so much
- I now understand why people have "book boyfriends" because Enid is my book girlfriend
- I can also fix her
- Autistic lesbian representation is always a welcome plus
- Sometimes the best lesbian romance novels aren't marketed as romances at all
- I love Enid so much
- I now understand why people have "book boyfriends" because Enid is my book girlfriend
- I can also fix her
- Autistic lesbian representation is always a welcome plus
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Murder, Stalking, and Violence
None of these things actually happen to Enid-- she's just a true crime junkie.kelkelkelkelly's review
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.5
I loved this book so much. Enid is a vivid, authentic character that bundles her quirks, flaws, desires and fears together in a beautifully authentic way. The cast of characters are all unique and feel very real, and the writing style has this clipped, frank style that really suits Enid’s POV. The plot does hinge on miscommunication tropes, but it works with the relationships in the story. There are some unexpectedly chilling and creepy moments that make this a real page-turner. This story will stay with me for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, and Violence
cartermon4's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Bullying, Eating disorder, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
elderwoodreads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I related to Enid more than I would like to admit. This was spectacularly written and I really enjoyed the pace and writing style. I will definitely be coming back to this one again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking
Moderate: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Ableism
Minor: Toxic friendship, Rape, Lesbophobia, Violence, Sexual violence, and Homophobia
murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
There is a quality to Austin’s work that always makes me feel so incredibly seen, sometimes uncomfortably so. I identified with the main character even more in this book than I did in her other novel. This book was really stressful to read but also felt weirdly comforting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Homophobia