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laylar's review against another edition
4.0
I like reading about unlikable protagonists and messy women so I enjoyed the book a lot, the story was kind of ridiculous and the ending was a little predictable, but in all it was a fun ride. I like that the character was flawed and we saw her start to recognise that and take steps to grow, but it didn't get wrapped up in a neat bow. At the end she's still flawed, but trying, which I appreciate as feeling more real than a happy ending.
My one major issue with the book was the use of the n-word, as recited lyrics from a song. Entirely unnecessary, added nothing, could very easily have been left out, so not sure why the fuck the author and/or editor/publisher decided to include it? Almost seems like going out of your way to be shitty tbh. Wasn't a recurring issue through the book. As others have mentioned, lesbian slurs were used but since the book is about a lesbian and written by a queer woman, that's not an issue for me the same way that a white woman including the n-word for the fuck of it is.
My one major issue with the book was the use of the n-word, as recited lyrics from a song. Entirely unnecessary, added nothing, could very easily have been left out, so not sure why the fuck the author and/or editor/publisher decided to include it? Almost seems like going out of your way to be shitty tbh. Wasn't a recurring issue through the book. As others have mentioned, lesbian slurs were used but since the book is about a lesbian and written by a queer woman, that's not an issue for me the same way that a white woman including the n-word for the fuck of it is.
sjbeebefin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
marissazupancic's review against another edition
2.0
this book was writing extremely well, but i was unable to get into this book. i think i just don’t relate to the millennial experience at all, so it was hard for me to fully immerse myself in it. really appreciated the queer experiences
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
In the end, this one receives the thinnest of four stars. I’m nudging it over the line because I think it has a lot going for it, even with the protagonist driving me absolutely bonkers for the last 20-30 pages.
I guess I should start with the positives: I like Catie Disabato’s writing. She has a gift for creating real, believable characters, even the ghost ones. Her vision of how witchcraft works in this world: that mediums have the power to see ghosts, with certain conditions, and with problems attached, was fun to explore. I liked how she created and focused on mostly (not exclusively) LGBTQIA+ relationships and her take on the lesbian scene in Los Angeles was enlightening. If you’re looking for a book to read for Pride and this sounds interesting to you, I’d say go for it.
There are some problems with this too, and those problems are big with a capital-P. Disabato really likes long, run on paragraphs that are packed with plot. It made for a disorienting reading experience, especially since the dialogue is either spoken in a clipped manner or written through text media. It took me two tries to start this and while I’m glad I finished it, it’s disorienting.
Also, the deeper into the story I got, the less I liked Eve. She seems like a lousy friend/lover/companion who pitches a fit when she doesn’t get what she wants. When good things happen to her in the duration of the book (don’t want to say where for spoiler reasons), I kind of rolled my eyes. Now I have no problem reading unlikable characters if there’s a reason to care for them but the more I read, the less I cared and by the end, I was glad to be done.
My other beef, which is kind of a small one in terms of the plot but: the ghosts Eve sees are mostly white people. I don’t know much about the spiritual realm but if Los Angeles was really haunted, wouldn’t it be by like the thousands of indigenous folks who were victims of colonialization?
At any rate, there’s enough here to like that I’m glad I read it but your mileage may vary.
I guess I should start with the positives: I like Catie Disabato’s writing. She has a gift for creating real, believable characters, even the ghost ones. Her vision of how witchcraft works in this world: that mediums have the power to see ghosts, with certain conditions, and with problems attached, was fun to explore. I liked how she created and focused on mostly (not exclusively) LGBTQIA+ relationships and her take on the lesbian scene in Los Angeles was enlightening. If you’re looking for a book to read for Pride and this sounds interesting to you, I’d say go for it.
There are some problems with this too, and those problems are big with a capital-P. Disabato really likes long, run on paragraphs that are packed with plot. It made for a disorienting reading experience, especially since the dialogue is either spoken in a clipped manner or written through text media. It took me two tries to start this and while I’m glad I finished it, it’s disorienting.
Also, the deeper into the story I got, the less I liked Eve. She seems like a lousy friend/lover/companion who pitches a fit when she doesn’t get what she wants. When good things happen to her in the duration of the book (don’t want to say where for spoiler reasons), I kind of rolled my eyes. Now I have no problem reading unlikable characters if there’s a reason to care for them but the more I read, the less I cared and by the end, I was glad to be done.
My other beef, which is kind of a small one in terms of the plot but: the ghosts Eve sees are mostly white people. I don’t know much about the spiritual realm but if Los Angeles was really haunted, wouldn’t it be by like the thousands of indigenous folks who were victims of colonialization?
At any rate, there’s enough here to like that I’m glad I read it but your mileage may vary.
sequoiawhitney's review against another edition
4.0
I really had a hard time getting into this but I like the overall story, location (maybe it’s bc I live/work in this side of LA), and ghost. I want to read the author’s other books.
As a whole, I did see the end happening. Eve relationships were very one sided. I get having tunnel vision but she never really stopped to ask how people felt.
As a whole, I did see the end happening. Eve relationships were very one sided. I get having tunnel vision but she never really stopped to ask how people felt.
opinionhaver69's review against another edition
5.0
aw fuck this was so good. easily easily easily one of my favourite books i’ve read this year. having feelings about it!
kdubyna's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0