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cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
It’s 1984 and Phoebe is 22 years old and has just left her home in Baltimore and has moved to New York. She’s struggling to make ends meet while working at a bookstore and making minimum wage, the only bright spot is her friend Carmen, and Phoebe is a bit infatuated with her, she’s constantly asking herself what would Carmen do. Carmen can charm anyone but she has her flaws, she’s always looking after her dug addicted boyfriend and she herself has been to rehab. When Phoebe accepts a job at a popular night club where the wealthy and famous people
party, she becomes Astrid she reads fortunes off old movie theatre ticket stubs. She makes more at the nightclub than at the bookstore, and soon she sees her life start to spiral downward, especially after the death of her father and an unfortunate relationship with an older man. Carmen and Phoebe rent their own apartment and the neighborhood is filled with artist, drugs and people who have been to jail. Soon Phoebe begins to pick up a few self destructing habits and begins to lose herself, all she wants is a glamorous life like the ones she sees every night at the club. I really enjoyed this book! I loved the atmospheric details the author gave about the grittiness and darkness around the clubs and neighborhoods Phoebe visited, she seems so real especially with her struggles. Reading about the 1980’s partying scene made the reader wish they were right there! Four stars!
party, she becomes Astrid she reads fortunes off old movie theatre ticket stubs. She makes more at the nightclub than at the bookstore, and soon she sees her life start to spiral downward, especially after the death of her father and an unfortunate relationship with an older man. Carmen and Phoebe rent their own apartment and the neighborhood is filled with artist, drugs and people who have been to jail. Soon Phoebe begins to pick up a few self destructing habits and begins to lose herself, all she wants is a glamorous life like the ones she sees every night at the club. I really enjoyed this book! I loved the atmospheric details the author gave about the grittiness and darkness around the clubs and neighborhoods Phoebe visited, she seems so real especially with her struggles. Reading about the 1980’s partying scene made the reader wish they were right there! Four stars!
rpanny's review against another edition
4.0
As a lover of NY lit, particularly from the '80s I was excited about Astrid Sees All. While it did hit that nostalgia spot, I found some of the story a little surface-level. Phoebe goes through a lot over the course of the book, but I found her relationship with (and subsequent obsession to pay back) Ivan felt forced and didn't resonate emotionally with the book. Her relationship with Carmen was far more interesting, and I appreciate that Standiford didn't take the cheap route of queer baiting Phoebe's feelings for her. The steady increase of missing girls, with Phoebe's downward spiral and her dread about Carmen's disappearance lead to a satisfying - if stomach turning - climax.
While I enjoyed, and was at times captivated by, Standiford's novel - I felt like there was a lot of emotional depth yet to be mined.
While I enjoyed, and was at times captivated by, Standiford's novel - I felt like there was a lot of emotional depth yet to be mined.
neens's review against another edition
3.0
This was a solid, engaging book! For the most part, I loved the pacing — it was quick, making it the type of book you don’t want to put down. I read it in two sittings and felt completely immersed in the 1980s club scene, which I loved. The ending did feel rushed and a bit unsatisfactory, but not so much that it ruined the rest of the book. I ultimately just wanted a bit more complexity from the characters — there wasn’t much growth. Still, this was a super fun read, and I’m definitely excited to see what Standiford does next!
Thanks a ton to Atria Books, Natalie Standiford, and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks a ton to Atria Books, Natalie Standiford, and NetGalley for the ARC!
isaconnolly's review against another edition
3.0
had all the things i love (female friendship and coming-of-age in nyc) but the plot was just fine.
theamandalorianreads's review against another edition
3.0
a good, quick read. set in an nyc that largely doesn't exist anymore which is clearly a good thing, but one that i almost wish i could go back and see, for the sheer affordability of such a great city. the characters standiford introduces are decent, but they lack a certain something, almost as if they needed to be punched up a notch but there was not time or desire to. i expected phoebe's betrayal of carmen to be much meatier and i suppose, if i stretch the imagination, i can understand why it meant so much to carmen, but at face value it fell a little flat. an easy, breezy read for the summer.
angelajzhu's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely couldn't WAIT to read this book, just the beautiful cover alone drew me in so much.
The book is set in New York in the 1980's and [a:Natalie Standiford|136146|Natalie Standiford|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1268675443p2/136146.jpg]'s writing felt so evocative of the raw and gritty, yet vivid setting. I really appreciated the contrast of the vibrant and chaotic clubbing scenes against the backdrop of the squalid living situations. Similarly, the characters felt so realistic and vulnerable as well. Phoebe's character, while unlikable, perfectly encapsulates the desperation to fit in and search for our own character that so many of us experience in our young adulthood.
While I wished the novel had wrapped up with Phoebe finding her sense of self, I understand why it didn't (that's just not how life works). 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
The book is set in New York in the 1980's and [a:Natalie Standiford|136146|Natalie Standiford|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1268675443p2/136146.jpg]'s writing felt so evocative of the raw and gritty, yet vivid setting. I really appreciated the contrast of the vibrant and chaotic clubbing scenes against the backdrop of the squalid living situations. Similarly, the characters felt so realistic and vulnerable as well. Phoebe's character, while unlikable, perfectly encapsulates the desperation to fit in and search for our own character that so many of us experience in our young adulthood.
While I wished the novel had wrapped up with Phoebe finding her sense of self, I understand why it didn't (that's just not how life works). 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
jenabest's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 rounded to 3. It was... Fine?
I just didn't really enjoy any of the characters or care what happened to them. Sounded promising, but really fell flat.
I just didn't really enjoy any of the characters or care what happened to them. Sounded promising, but really fell flat.
alicebeastcat's review against another edition
4.0
A relatable story of forging one's independence and identity post-college in a big city. Also a moving story of learning to recognize and appreciate the qualities that make a good friend, and how to be a good friend oneself.