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carojust's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I’ll start by saying I’m a huge Nora Ephron fan. “You’ve Got Mail” is embedded in my soul — the witty dialogue, the New York romanticism, the literary ASMR-ness of her writing and take on relationships.
I found this in “Heartburn” — the same sense of humor and lighthearted narration of the discovery of an affair while pregnant. It felt real, and I had to confirm it was inspired by what really happened in her second marriage.
For me, it’s all a little too goofy, maybe because it’s a book of its time, with dated observations and 1980s references that I can’t fault it for. However, this comes with racism, homophobia and sexism, and has the tone of the White privileged bobo class that was aspirational then, but hard to read today. If I could get past that, it’d be a fun read, and a cathartic reflection on infidelity and finding the strength to start over again.
I found this in “Heartburn” — the same sense of humor and lighthearted narration of the discovery of an affair while pregnant. It felt real, and I had to confirm it was inspired by what really happened in her second marriage.
For me, it’s all a little too goofy, maybe because it’s a book of its time, with dated observations and 1980s references that I can’t fault it for. However, this comes with racism, homophobia and sexism, and has the tone of the White privileged bobo class that was aspirational then, but hard to read today. If I could get past that, it’d be a fun read, and a cathartic reflection on infidelity and finding the strength to start over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Medical content, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
bellsdixon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit and Lesbophobia
mattyvreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Nora Ephron is one of the funniest writers I have ever had the privilege of reading, and I am inspired by how she imbues her stories with emotionality and humanity. Her turn of phrase is effortlessly hilarious and sardonic. I have never read a book that made me laugh out loud as much.
I would say about 85% of this book has aged beautifully. There are a couple questionable parts, but including a flagrant and obviously purposeful overuse of a sapphic slur. At the very least, even though presumably well intentioned, there is some lamp-shading there.
Overall, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. I absolutely adored this book.
I would say about 85% of this book has aged beautifully. There are a couple questionable parts, but including a flagrant and obviously purposeful overuse of a sapphic slur. At the very least, even though presumably well intentioned, there is some lamp-shading there.
Overall, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. I absolutely adored this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical content, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Suicide
ashleyjean6's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
Hilarious and real (in an almost uncomfortable way). Loved the recipes scattered throughout. Really original, witty and well written. I listened and I think Meryl Streep's narration put it into the 5 star category! I'd have to read it on paper to be sure, but I think on its own it's more like 4+ stars. Very good!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, and Pregnancy
kate3721's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical content, and Pregnancy
mariakureads's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Nora Ephron has a great wit and it shows in the dialogue which I enjoyed but I didn't like a single character. Not a single one.
There's nothing about them that draws me in which is hysterical because the dialogue is good. The dialogue is fantastic and well done but the characters.... The characters are just meh. The MC, Rachel, is a wet blanket that allows herself to get stepped on not just once, but multiple times in the book by different people in her life.
It made me question a lot of her choices which lead to where she is at and what the book is about that as I kept reading, I struggled with her and the people in her life that feel just toxic in different ways.
There's nothing about them that draws me in which is hysterical because the dialogue is good. The dialogue is fantastic and well done but the characters.... The characters are just meh. The MC, Rachel, is a wet blanket that allows herself to get stepped on not just once, but multiple times in the book by different people in her life.
It made me question a lot of her choices which lead to where she is at and what the book is about that as I kept reading, I struggled with her and the people in her life that feel just toxic in different ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
skeltzer's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I realized halfway through that this is the comedy cousin to The Year of Magical Thinking. This is a very upper middle class story with associated humor and puchlines (everyone has a maid; everyone sleeping with everyone else) with dated references and cringeworthy passages (peep the content warnings). I do like the recipes sprinkled through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body shaming, Homophobia, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
danajoy's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Medical content
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Lesbophobia