Reviews

If Fleabag and Fitzgerald could have a baby - it would probably be this book.

Centered on two friends, one an author and one a magazine editor, who correspond only through emails for a majority of this book (and their friendship?). As the chapters alternate between email and each woman’s story, they are seeking to understand the demise of civilizations and what there is left to enjoy of the world they have now.

The characters are probably the most unhappy, and yet, they don’t do anything to try to help themselves. They choose to wallow and almost compete with each other to see who has it worse. There’s also plenty of elements of self sabotage when it comes to their relationships, both romantic and familial.

Speaking of romantic, man, I was not prepared for the quantity of sexual content. Maybe I should’ve read the synopsis closer.

florencewakana's review against another edition

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reflective tense medium-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

3.0

I liked the characters and story up until halfway through the book, but then they became kind of insufferable to me. Can't they just communicate like normal people, without hurting each other? It felt like living with four people who aren't happy with themselves and their lives, it was exhausting. I didn't give it 1 star because I read it pretty quickly, and at least it made me feel something. But that something wasn't very pleasant.

sophiepottsx's review against another edition

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emotional relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lottesofie's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

zafrarifky's review against another edition

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4.0

Such beautiful writing. Amazing characters and beautiful dynamics and relationships between the characters. Gold!

sva_13's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

catalinag1's review against another edition

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emotional medium-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

3.5

Sally Rooney is one of my favorite authors of all time, just want to put it out there. Now that’s out of the way, this book didn’t pull me in. The long, multi-paged paragraphs absolutely killed it for me. It made it difficult to follow which then, made the characters feel flat. There were events that depicted transformation occurring for the characters but it didn’t feel transformative.

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