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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Violence
I've haven't felt so conflicted about a book in a while, which sucks because I really wanted to enjoy this more. On one hand, I felt like I related deeply to Frances' struggles of centralizing one's academic career, and feeling the insecurity surrounding what one is supposed to do, versus what one feels fulfilment from. Unfortunately, the story itself just didn't sit right with me. Objectively, Alice Oseman is a good writer, but her writing was a bit too plain for me. Also, the whole story felt just a bit too "2014 Tumblr cringe" for me, at 22 years old. I think I would've enjoyed this a lot more if I had read it in high school.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Popsugar 2022 reading challenge: A book with a character on the ace spectrum
When this book works, it works so well. It was so much rawer than I expected and I often felt reluctant to pick this one up because some things in it hit a little too close to home. Especially At times though this book felt a little like it was treading water and I’d feel reluctant to read it because I was adrift in a section that felt pretty boring. I also feel like sometimes Francis’s character development was made a bit subordinate to Aled’s.
It’s still worth reading. At times it felt a little too impressed with itself in a “DAE think platonic bonds matter too? I’m the only one to think this!” kind of way. On the other hand the platonic bonds here are very touching and good. Although ironically I ended up a bit more moved by Francis and Daniel than Francis and Aled!
I was also pleasantly surprised with how it dealt with internet celebrity. The trappings are a bit dated and boy can you tell this was written in 2013 because tumblr is a huge deal (The Hate U Give also has this happen if I remember correctly!) The actual concerns and behaviors feel evergreen though. Some events that happen in here remind me of some of the real world content creators* whose work I follow and who have either stopped creating entirely or have gone on the record pretty forcefully about how the internet has dehumanized them. Aled and Francis both go through that and those sections were some of the strongest parts for me.
Overall this is a strong book with a lot to offer. I know I sound a bit negative and I think this is a case of the positives making the negatives stand out more than they actually do for me. It’s worth checking out if the summary appeals to you.
*and isn’t that phrase “content creator” kind of dehumanizing in and of itself?
When this book works, it works so well. It was so much rawer than I expected and I often felt reluctant to pick this one up because some things in it hit a little too close to home. Especially
Spoiler
realizing mid interview that you actually aren’t at all into the subject you want to get a job in eventually.Spoiler
Yes it’s important for him to be helped out at the end but Francis also had a full on depressive breakdown over not getting into the right university and out of nowhere she goes “wait I actually want to go to art college” and a whole lifetime of unhealthy obsessing goes away? I don’t know I know. I wanted a bit more from and about her and I feel like it should have happened even if Aled is in the more immediate crisis.It’s still worth reading. At times it felt a little too impressed with itself in a “DAE think platonic bonds matter too? I’m the only one to think this!” kind of way. On the other hand the platonic bonds here are very touching and good. Although ironically I ended up a bit more moved by Francis and Daniel than Francis and Aled!
I was also pleasantly surprised with how it dealt with internet celebrity. The trappings are a bit dated and boy can you tell this was written in 2013 because tumblr is a huge deal (The Hate U Give also has this happen if I remember correctly!) The actual concerns and behaviors feel evergreen though. Some events that happen in here remind me of some of the real world content creators* whose work I follow and who have either stopped creating entirely or have gone on the record pretty forcefully about how the internet has dehumanized them. Aled and Francis both go through that and those sections were some of the strongest parts for me.
Overall this is a strong book with a lot to offer. I know I sound a bit negative and I think this is a case of the positives making the negatives stand out more than they actually do for me. It’s worth checking out if the summary appeals to you.
*and isn’t that phrase “content creator” kind of dehumanizing in and of itself?
It was harder to get into than solitaire but it’s so so good. I didn’t relate so much to the characters as I did with the ones in solitaire but that didn’t make me love the characters any less. Also the solitaire cameos are everything. I only caught two but after I finished reading I went back and saw them. I loved the story it was definitely a better storyline than solitaire. Alice portrayals academic pressure, friendships and teenagers so well. I loved the ending so much and Aled has become one of my favourite characters ever.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
This book was so clearly written by a kid in college and I mean that in the best possible way.