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mari_library's review
This is a soft-DNF but I am as bored as I was when I was reading Anna Karenina (and honestly I think I had more fun reading Levin talk about farming for 50+ pages). I think there was a lot of lost potential here. None of the character's felt flushed out. A lot of them were just a list of character traits with no connection. I wasn't connected nor cared about any of them, and to be honest, I forgot a lot of characters/things that happened to them because I wasn't invested. A liked a few of the storylines but I think that - given the source material - there was so much more that could've been given. I think this reimagining of Tolstoy would've benefited if the characters actually used modern devices (you're telling me none of these characters had a YouTube channel or a TikTok?? Sounds fake but okay). Like if Anna and Vronsky texted, we would actually have some high stakes here. It doesn't help that Anna lacks a personality (which sucks given that she was my favorite in the original story). Also because they are in high school, it is hard to take anything seriously, you know?
Plus the amount of unchecked sexism and racism is getting to me. oh and let's not get into how Vronsky was fucking horrible talking about the homeless guy and then try to turn face and give him money. And when Anna was like "I saw you give him money", the bastard was like "I wanted you to see it because I want you to see that I do care". Like boy, eat dirt.
Plus the amount of unchecked sexism and racism is getting to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Classism, and Animal death
decklededgess's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trigger warnings: sexual content (characters are under 18), drug and alcohol abuse, addiction, overdosing, rehabilitation, depression, suicide ideation, suicide attempt, self harm mention, vehicle accident, death by train, animal harm/death, emotionally abusive parents, infidelity, sexual harassment and cyber bullying, vomit, fatphobia, racism, classism, slut shaming, emotional incest
Idk who or what have me the idea but this book is not sapphic? There is one sapphic character who is like basically background. No wlw here in the main cast.
Other than that disappointment this book was phenomenal. A very xoxo Gossip Girl touch to Anna Karenina which seems apt from what I know about the original text.
The wealth disparity and lack of relatability of thee wealthy ass kids made the trauma a but more distant so I could read the book without internalising too much.
It’s beautifully written and I loved the chaos that third person omniscient pov provided to the narrative.
Excited for the next one!
Idk who or what have me the idea but this book is not sapphic? There is one sapphic character who is like basically background. No wlw here in the main cast.
Other than that disappointment this book was phenomenal. A very xoxo Gossip Girl touch to Anna Karenina which seems apt from what I know about the original text.
The wealth disparity and lack of relatability of thee wealthy ass kids made the trauma a but more distant so I could read the book without internalising too much.
It’s beautifully written and I loved the chaos that third person omniscient pov provided to the narrative.
Excited for the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion
theespressoedition's review
challenging
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really struggled with this book. When I started reading it, it felt like a fun mix of Crazy Rich Asians and Gossip Girl blended together. The teenage drama and angst mixed with a bit of comedy. There was the hijinks, the tabloids, the money, the sex.
But there were so many characters to follow and that made it challenging right off the bat. I know there was a cast of characters listed in the book, but listening to an audiobook, I couldn't easily access those to keep track. And even if I had been reading a physical copy, I think I would've gotten confused. There were even super similar names that had me feeling upside down and backward a few times.
In addition, the fact that this book was YA with such intense sexual overtones made me really uncomfortable. It's one thing to read about it when it's an adult book, but we were talking about 15-year-olds watching other kids have sex (and describing the acts) and that just made me feel gross.
I know the story of Anna Karenina, so I wasn't terribly surprised by the way things played out, since it followed that storyline pretty closely. The whole book was just incredibly long for not much actually happening - or a lot happening but nothing fruitful? I don't know, but it wasn't what I hoped for, I guess.
But there were so many characters to follow and that made it challenging right off the bat. I know there was a cast of characters listed in the book, but listening to an audiobook, I couldn't easily access those to keep track. And even if I had been reading a physical copy, I think I would've gotten confused. There were even super similar names that had me feeling upside down and backward a few times.
In addition, the fact that this book was YA with such intense sexual overtones made me really uncomfortable. It's one thing to read about it when it's an adult book, but we were talking about 15-year-olds watching other kids have sex (and describing the acts) and that just made me feel gross.
I know the story of Anna Karenina, so I wasn't terribly surprised by the way things played out, since it followed that storyline pretty closely. The whole book was just incredibly long for not much actually happening - or a lot happening but nothing fruitful? I don't know, but it wasn't what I hoped for, I guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
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