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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's a good follow on from the kids books, though it does read weirdly young in parts. The character is supposed to be 40 and it could be a bit more adult. Maybe Ellie is just supposed to be really immature, but it seemed off.
Also not enough Nadine and Magda, the books were focused on all three of them but this is very much an Ellie story.
They also changed the name of a character for no reason which was confusing at first. How did nobody catch that in editing?
The ending was nice, but I wish we'd seen more of it. I hated Gary (who was Guy in the original books, the girls all learnt the name and should have remembered it, why was this changed?) and they should have broken it off way sooner. Also idk why Nadine and Magda thought it was fine him crashing their lunch, they should have called it out as a major red flag and that should have been what caused the break up.
I wish we saw Ellie learning about her sexuality, coming out to people, etc. -I would have liked that way more than endless Gary/Guy mansplaining dates.
Also the whole Nigel storyline is creepy and went nowhere. Idk how the family thought it was funny, he'd cousin bring a creep and trying to kiss her is not funny at all!
More Nadine and Magda was needed. What's Magda going through with changing her look and trying to fit in with Chris' friends? We know Ellie doesn't like him but no idea why.
Nadine has so little story, she's sleeping around apparently and kind of has a thing with her landlord (do we need more creepy men really?), BDSM which would have been great to go into more detail on but no detail is ever given.
I saw someone say this doesn't feel like women who are fourty based on the language and I agree.
It seems like every straight man is terrible in the story too, it sould be nice to show some decent men. Or even make the book less about men and focus more on the girls!
Also not enough Nadine and Magda, the books were focused on all three of them but this is very much an Ellie story.
They also changed the name of a character for no reason which was confusing at first. How did nobody catch that in editing?
I wish we saw Ellie learning about her sexuality, coming out to people, etc. -I would have liked that way more than endless Gary/Guy mansplaining dates.
Also the whole Nigel storyline is creepy and went nowhere. Idk how the family thought it was funny, he'd cousin bring a creep and trying to kiss her is not funny at all!
More Nadine and Magda was needed. What's Magda going through with changing her look and trying to fit in with Chris' friends? We know Ellie doesn't like him but no idea why.
Nadine has so little story, she's sleeping around apparently and kind of has a thing with her landlord (do we need more creepy men really?), BDSM which would have been great to go into more detail on but no detail is ever given.
I saw someone say this doesn't feel like women who are fourty based on the language and I agree.
It seems like every straight man is terrible in the story too, it sould be nice to show some decent men. Or even make the book less about men and focus more on the girls!
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
At first I thought this was going to be a five star read. I was invested from the start and really enjoying this book. However towards end the book felt like it was becoming repetitive with Ellie’s relationship and then the actual ending felt rushed. I could see it was heading in that direction but it would have been good if that had been explored more in the book. I’m still giving the book four stars as apart from these couple of points I did enjoying the book. It was exciting to hear what Ellie, Magda and Nadine are up to now and Jacqueline Wilson did pull me into their story.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wanted to love this but it cannot compare to her YA novels. Had the ending figured out in the first few chapters, and Ellie was the only character with any depth. HATED the student/teacher relationship and glad that Ellie did too by the end . It was nostalgic to read Jacqueline Wilson again, however it did primarily read like it was written for 12 year olds with some sex scenes thrown in which was somewhat jarring.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this was ok, a relatively easy read that felt nostalgic having grown up reading JW but the ending felt random and rushed and a bit like fan fiction lol
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes