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aishallnot's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-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
3.5
3.5 rounded up to 4
I enjoy a good coming of age story, especially when the mc is in their 20s. This i think was a decent debut but i kinda have mixed feelings.
First, i love how diverse this book with the characters. I feel like this definitely served a purpose in regards to the ethnic backgrounds of the characters as well as the queer community in london. Elsie is definitely going through it (though she can be hard to root for at times) and it was refreshing to see how she has people that she can reach to for support besides her family. She's very close with her grandmother and i loved seeing that relationship whenever she was showcased. I also liked maggie and how she was almost like an auntie to elsie and encouraged to use her gift of her writing as well as her voice (something her grandmother also strongly instilled in her) .
Speaking of which, i definitely related to elsie at times in terms of not being openly vulnerable and even wanting to become a best selling poet/writer. i loved how she has the determination to go after what she wants and expresses herself through writing instead of speaking (i definitely do that ðŸ˜).
Now, here's where some things fell short. I feel like plot wise,this could have been another 20-30 pages or so because the ending definitely felt rushed with the car crash (which might have been the climax?). We didn't really get to see elsie and juliet have a proper closure after the fight they had. Sure they made up, but the story just ends kinda abruptly imo almost like its a start of something new between them but that's it.
The writing was fine and easy to read (not a lot jargon-y words), but i kinda wish there was more showing how the characters feel than telling. Especially with a book so written emotion heavy, i feel that we didn't get to see that until the end.
Lastly, there were some plot points and even like 1-2 characters i wish were shown more.The biggest one probably elsie's mom and the infidelity. I wasn't the biggest fan of her, but i wish we got to see her address the situation with elsie more and the two of them talk it out, but now i think its bc elsie wasn't on good terms with her mom and she didn't think much of her dad cheating . Another thing to add is that elsie's parents and their relationship could have been explored more on the outlook of love.
And then there's andrew who was kinda there to be an antagonist but also create a love triangle...anyways.
Again i think this is a decent debut and i don't think its a bad book. I just felt there was something missing within the story and now finishing it i can think what could have been added. I heard the author has another book so I'm intrigued to see what she will wrote next.
I enjoy a good coming of age story, especially when the mc is in their 20s. This i think was a decent debut but i kinda have mixed feelings.
First, i love how diverse this book with the characters. I feel like this definitely served a purpose in regards to the ethnic backgrounds of the characters as well as the queer community in london. Elsie is definitely going through it (though she can be hard to root for at times) and it was refreshing to see how she has people that she can reach to for support besides her family. She's very close with her grandmother and i loved seeing that relationship whenever she was showcased. I also liked maggie and how she was almost like an auntie to elsie and encouraged to use her gift of her writing as well as her voice (something her grandmother also strongly instilled in her) .
Speaking of which, i definitely related to elsie at times in terms of not being openly vulnerable and even wanting to become a best selling poet/writer. i loved how she has the determination to go after what she wants and expresses herself through writing instead of speaking (i definitely do that ðŸ˜).
Now, here's where some things fell short. I feel like plot wise,
The writing was fine and easy to read (not a lot jargon-y words), but i kinda wish there was more showing how the characters feel than telling. Especially with a book so written emotion heavy, i feel that we didn't get to see that until the end.
Lastly, there were some plot points and even like 1-2 characters i wish were shown more.
Again i think this is a decent debut and i don't think its a bad book. I just felt there was something missing within the story and now finishing it i can think what could have been added. I heard the author has another book so I'm intrigued to see what she will wrote next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Blood
mo_za11's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Infidelity and Blood
leoniepeonie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.25
I really liked a lot of this book - I liked the style, and I really liked how Little illustrated Elsie's relationship with her own writing and her tumultuous path to being able to understand and communicate her feelings. The first 2/3 of the book were great. I think I felt frustrated though that Elsie and Juliette got together with a big chunk of the book left, and the strange tailspin that then took place of Juliette retreating and then the car crash all just felt a bit like 'jumping the shark' to me: orchestrated for a drama that didn't necessarily need to take place, and left things feeling a bit less real. In spite of the book also sometimes feeling a bit cliché and predictable, I definitely still enjoyed the ride and would be interested to see what Little does next.
I listened to this as an audiobook and thought it was excellently performed by Little's wife.
I listened to this as an audiobook and thought it was excellently performed by Little's wife.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
nessafurtado's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
I couldn’t put this book down; gonna miss Els and Juliet so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Blood
bootlegfrank's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Loved this book! Finished with a quickness. Elsie’s dreams become your own and you end wanting to see her love, be loved and succeed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Car accident
Moderate: Medical trauma and Alcohol
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
erinouye's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
mmccombs's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
I mean, I was engaged enough but I really didn’t feel like anyone around Elsie was a real person. The plot was nonexistent but not in a purposeful-feeling, character-driven way, so it just kind of felt like I was bouncing around disconnected events. I also just think ending novels with a car crash is a cop-out. The tension of this novel relied on Elsie and Juliet simply talking things out and navigating their different approaches to showing/accepting love, so tacking on a car accident at the end gave their relationship an unearned resolution. Nothing quite like finding love through a shared traumatic event!! It was fine, but I have a feeling I will immediately forget everything about this book in two hours.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Cursing, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Car accident, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
ekg's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, and Drug use
ejl2623's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Rosewater brings us Elsie, a queer black Guyanese poet (she/her) who left home at sixteen and moved to London. Now in her twenties, she works in a failing bar for not enough money to pay the rent and she has fabulous sex with a coworker, Bea, who lives with her boyfriend Karma. When Elsie's landlord evicts her, she turns to her best friend from childhood, Juliet, who puts her up in her spare bedroom. Except, Elsie and Juliet had a falling out a few months prior and haven't talked since. Juliet is a preschool teacher who makes extra money on a video-sex site. Andrew hangs about hoping for a chance with Juliet. Elsie doesn't like him or most of Juliet's friends. Along the way, Rosewater explores a whole variety of individuals with pronouns that fit them. Elsie has an opportunity to showcase her poetry and starts to explore her options.
Rosewater is partly about family and trauma. It is about a loving grandmother. It is about food and it's emotional importance in our lives. It is about the kinds of friends who take care of you no matter what. It is about a parents who do not take care of you. It is about being gay and living an independent life that is not open to your family. It is about the array of people one meets over a few months of life in our twenties. It is both specific to the experience of being a lesbian and it is universal. It is beautifully written and I read and reread the poems included as they are gorgeous. Very much enjoyed this book.
Rosewater is partly about family and trauma. It is about a loving grandmother. It is about food and it's emotional importance in our lives. It is about the kinds of friends who take care of you no matter what. It is about a parents who do not take care of you. It is about being gay and living an independent life that is not open to your family. It is about the array of people one meets over a few months of life in our twenties. It is both specific to the experience of being a lesbian and it is universal. It is beautifully written and I read and reread the poems included as they are gorgeous. Very much enjoyed this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Car accident