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wiltedpages's review against another edition
4.0
The book centers around a bunch of affluent, rich kids in Manhattan, with each chapter giving insight into a different character. The book may be titled Anna K. but each character is equally important, with all their stories and lives intertwining.
I’ve read some reviews saying teenagers aren’t like this and they don’t constantly have sex and have dramatic scandals like this. As a teenager, let me tell you that this is exactly what happens, minus the extreme wealth and expensive alcohol at parties. We just have parties with cheap beer.
I found one of the relationships a bit…predatory?? But that’s sort of addressed later in the book so my fears of creepy relationships were quelled after I read further in. My favorite character was Dustin because he wasn’t afraid to tell shit to Stephen’s face and definitely was the character with the best moral compass at the end of everything.
Overall, a solid read, especially for those who live for drama (like me!!). 4/5.
I’ve read some reviews saying teenagers aren’t like this and they don’t constantly have sex and have dramatic scandals like this. As a teenager, let me tell you that this is exactly what happens, minus the extreme wealth and expensive alcohol at parties. We just have parties with cheap beer.
I found one of the relationships a bit…predatory?? But that’s sort of addressed later in the book so my fears of creepy relationships were quelled after I read further in. My favorite character was Dustin because he wasn’t afraid to tell shit to Stephen’s face and definitely was the character with the best moral compass at the end of everything.
Overall, a solid read, especially for those who live for drama (like me!!). 4/5.
ladyphoenixqueen's review against another edition
2.0
For the first part of the book, I almost DNF. I hate how extremely topical the writing is - referencing pop culture, styles, and people that will be completely irrelevant in a decade, if not sooner. I also hated Anna Karenina and literally DNF that book. But this one reminded me of the show Gossip Girl, so I pressed on. I'm glad I did, because overall, it wasn't bad. Not my favorite and won't read again, but not bad.
starlitcursebreaker's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
This was such a good book! But I have to admit the ending was so unexpected and it left me all shook.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
kallmekirby's review against another edition
3.0
It was a really fun and (mostly) easy read; I was surprised that I ended up so invested in the book & its characters. There was a large cast of characters, and I definitely felt like the author did a great job of fleshing out side characters. I appreciated the social commentary in this book as well!!! But the writing of slang/how young adults talk was so CRINGE-Y. I have never heard someone use the word "joinsies" in my life, but those bits were just humorous. If you don't like insta-love then you're going to hate this, but since it's a retelling I think it worked really well!
elizkacz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, and Racial slurs
Minor: Confinement, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Cultural appropriation
bookishjosh's review against another edition
1.0
A boy she loved with all her heart had loved her more. And she deserved it.
I feel a little bad about giving this book one star because I really wanted to enjoy it. Korean characters, rich-people drama, and a loose retelling of a beloved classic (that I haven't even read). What more could I have asked for? But sadly, I couldn't care less now. Just because I'm a K-pop fan doesn't mean that I'm going to enjoy every K-pop-related story. I guess I learned this the hard way. Hahahaha.
I really should've done my research on the source material because little did I know that Anna Karenina was actually about infidelity. The main characters practically had a deadly affair and ruined each other's lives just to soothe their loins. The same thing almost happened in this book. The protagonists in Anna K were shameless cheaters, but most of them still achieved a happy (if not hopeful) ending.
My first issue was Anna's hypocrisy. She criticized her brother Steven for cheating on Lolly. Weeks or months later, Anna finds herself betraying Alexander, her long-term but "very boring" boyfriend. Vronsky, Anna's paramour, was basically a hot bastard who was notorious for sleeping with almost every pretty girl in the city. For the life of me, I couldn't understand his obsession with Anna. It seemed to boil down to her good looks. As for Anna, she clung to Vronsky simply because she was tired of being prim and proper, her daddy's little good girl.
My second gripe was the writing, which had an abundance of unnecessary descriptions to make readers believe that the characters were really, really rich. Luxury brands were mentioned here and there as if I cared about their fancy clothes, cars, and furniture. Being part of the middle class, I couldn't even imagine most of them. You might appreciate this book more if you're a reader with sophisticated tastes. Still, I don't get why sex and drugs count as "high culture." In many ways, ordinary people are genuinely more cultured than the rich.
The only thing I enjoyed was Anna and Steven's close relationship as siblings. Their parents were mostly terrible at parenting, so the children were as thick as thieves. Sometimes, it seemed like Steven loved his sister more than he did his girlfriend. But I didn't particularly appreciate how the siblings condoned each other's bad behavior or loose morals. Where was the tough love in that? Ideally, loving someone should embolden you to confront them when they're wrong.
Overall, Anna's epiphany that she deserved Vronsky's love was questionable. It made me realize something myself: Anna hadn't learned her lesson. Cheating is cheating, no matter how hard you try to rationalize it. If Anna K was this annoying, I should remove Anna Karenina from my TBR pile.
I feel a little bad about giving this book one star because I really wanted to enjoy it. Korean characters, rich-people drama, and a loose retelling of a beloved classic (that I haven't even read). What more could I have asked for? But sadly, I couldn't care less now. Just because I'm a K-pop fan doesn't mean that I'm going to enjoy every K-pop-related story. I guess I learned this the hard way. Hahahaha.
I really should've done my research on the source material because little did I know that Anna Karenina was actually about infidelity. The main characters practically had a deadly affair and ruined each other's lives just to soothe their loins. The same thing almost happened in this book. The protagonists in Anna K were shameless cheaters, but most of them still achieved a happy (if not hopeful) ending.
My first issue was Anna's hypocrisy. She criticized her brother Steven for cheating on Lolly. Weeks or months later, Anna finds herself betraying Alexander, her long-term but "very boring" boyfriend. Vronsky, Anna's paramour, was basically a hot bastard who was notorious for sleeping with almost every pretty girl in the city. For the life of me, I couldn't understand his obsession with Anna. It seemed to boil down to her good looks. As for Anna, she clung to Vronsky simply because she was tired of being prim and proper, her daddy's little good girl.
My second gripe was the writing, which had an abundance of unnecessary descriptions to make readers believe that the characters were really, really rich. Luxury brands were mentioned here and there as if I cared about their fancy clothes, cars, and furniture. Being part of the middle class, I couldn't even imagine most of them. You might appreciate this book more if you're a reader with sophisticated tastes. Still, I don't get why sex and drugs count as "high culture." In many ways, ordinary people are genuinely more cultured than the rich.
The only thing I enjoyed was Anna and Steven's close relationship as siblings. Their parents were mostly terrible at parenting, so the children were as thick as thieves. Sometimes, it seemed like Steven loved his sister more than he did his girlfriend. But I didn't particularly appreciate how the siblings condoned each other's bad behavior or loose morals. Where was the tough love in that? Ideally, loving someone should embolden you to confront them when they're wrong.
Overall, Anna's epiphany that she deserved Vronsky's love was questionable. It made me realize something myself: Anna hadn't learned her lesson. Cheating is cheating, no matter how hard you try to rationalize it. If Anna K was this annoying, I should remove Anna Karenina from my TBR pile.
kaikai1618's review against another edition
2.0
DNFed it. Tried so hard to finish but in the end I found nothing keeping me going. It's not that the writing was bad, it was that not even good writing can save such a vapid external situation with people I care little about, a relationship that moved too quickly for me to be invested in and that made me roll my eyes. I couldn't continue because the characters were so painful to listen to and I was about 75% done with the book. Anything I was remotely interested in couldn't overcome how unbearable most of the characters were.
shanhautman's review against another edition
Not my cup of tea. Couldn't even handle as a light, escapist read. Vapid characters, repetitive narrative, and a hollow plot that's been done again and again.. Less than 50 pages in and could surmise the entire plot trajectory. No point in reading further.
jess_mango's review against another edition
Let's call it a 3.5 for now.
This is a modern YA retelling of[b:Anna Karenina|15823480|Anna Karenina|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601352433l/15823480._SX50_.jpg|2507928]. But instead of being set in Russian society, it is set in current day NYC featuring a cast of private school teens. The titular character Anna K is Korean-American, she attends a private school in Greenwich and described as a great beauty. She's in a lackluster relationship with Alexander, a boy who people call the Greenwich OG. Then, she catches the eye of a girl-chasing young man that all the girls lust after.
This features teen but is on the more risque end of YA with sex, drugs, and the whole shebang. It is thoroughly modern...featuring Coachella, lots of name dropping of current pop culture icons and modern trends.
This is a modern YA retelling of[b:Anna Karenina|15823480|Anna Karenina|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601352433l/15823480._SX50_.jpg|2507928]. But instead of being set in Russian society, it is set in current day NYC featuring a cast of private school teens. The titular character Anna K is Korean-American, she attends a private school in Greenwich and described as a great beauty. She's in a lackluster relationship with Alexander, a boy who people call the Greenwich OG. Then, she catches the eye of a girl-chasing young man that all the girls lust after.
This features teen but is on the more risque end of YA with sex, drugs, and the whole shebang. It is thoroughly modern...featuring Coachella, lots of name dropping of current pop culture icons and modern trends.