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emilypolle's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
A retelling of The Great Gatsby from the perspective of the women. I really enjoyed how it gave the reader information from before the original story, but then followed the same timeline and filled in gaps. Well done and gave new insight into why things happened in the original book! Would recommend for any Gatsby lover!
kikipix's review
Love a good “the other side of the history” take on a story. Being a take on The Great Gatsby it’s hard to avoid an expectation of the roaring 20s and glam aesthetic in the book. While this book is meant to illuminate that it wasn’t in fact, all crystal coupe classes and diamonds hair pins, it did take place amongst this glamour and that’s what makes the story tantalizing - and yet the book largely left that up to just the reader to create. I would’ve liked to have had a little bit more of the setting integrated with the story. It could be the intent was to make it not feel like the mistreatment of the women was distinctive to that period, to emphasize how much of what transpired seems to still occur in present day be it 1920s or 2020s, but that’s me giving benefit of the doubt and I would’ve like to have seen that made more clear if that was the case.
beckimoody29's review
5.0
I think I'm one of the few people who did not like The Great Gatsby. In fact, I'd never even read it (despite numerous literature classes) until after seeing the recent t Leonardo DiCaprio movie version. So I picked this up out of curiosity, with low expectations. I really liked the mystery since every one of the women could have done it. But I also liked that it explained so much of the rest of the story. (The "but why did she stay?" ) I'm not sure the men were really portrayed any worse than in the original, except for maybe Nick who was rather a wimp in the original and not much more here. Jay is still obsessed with what he can't have, Tom still treats women as possessions, and George is in the background here but still leads a sad pitiful existence. I think it works best as a companion piece, rather than a retelling, with both versions making a well-rounded whole.
mcearl12's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book—it honors the women of Gatsby as well as the whole feel of the era, and Fitzgerald’s voice.
erineluebbers's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lexivharms's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
If you’ve read The Great Gatsby recently you will not like this book. It felt like the true motives of the characters were entirely deleted. If you’re a true fan of the original classic, you will be bothered by this book. I almost DNF’d this book and it would’ve been my first one in years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Gaslighting
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
Not that I could remember all that much about The Great Gatsby, but this was a well done reimagining. Cantor tells the story from the point of view of three women - and the male detective who is convinced the truth of Jay Gatsby's murder has not been discovered. We hear Daisy Buchanan's story beginning with her late teenage years in Louisville. We hear her best friend, Jordan Baker's, story of coming of age as a female golf pro and we hear Catherine McCoy's story. She's a suffragette and the sister of Myrtle - the woman killed in a hit and run by Jay Gatsby's car. Women may not have had much power in the early 1900s but these women took some power when they could. Great story!
mheckman0429's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love The Great Gatsby and this book really highlighted the female characters and made them the star of the show. I really enjoyed this take on the story, and had a new respect for these characters.