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maryanne19's review against another edition
3.0
As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, Lou Reed's "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" started playing in my head. This book brings the sordid underbelly of 1980s Manhattan to life. The history teacher in me found it fascinating. Otherwise, I found it sad. Drugs, STDs, overdoses. There didn't seem to be much of a plot and very little resolution. it was gritty and dirty and real, interesting but downright depressing.
Thank you to Atria Books for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
Thank you to Atria Books for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
gottbergmn's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a gritty look at 1980s New York City, its underground life, and the coming of age of 2 “friends” (or one friend and a codependent relationship with a “frenemy”). It is raw, dark, occasionally funny, and somehow disturbing and unnerving. An unsettling book and a worthwhile read.
kkastrup2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
vcarella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
thefictionaddictionblog's review against another edition
4.0
Astrid Sees All, by Natalie Standiford, is about both a youthful embrace of all the experiences offered in 1980s Manhattan, and about running headlong into self-destruction.
New grad Phoebe follows her wild college friend Carmen to Manhattan, where the two dive right into drugs, clubs and men. It's a terribly unbalanced friendship, with Carmen firmly in the lead and Phoebe just trying to seem cool enough to tag along. This constantly reminds readers just how young Phoebe is. Carmen, with artistic, wealthy parents and a family apartment in Manhattan, is sheltered from a lot of possible consequences, but that only makes Carmen take bigger, wilder risks. And can anyone really be sheltered from addiction or heartbreak?
Full review in my book blog
New grad Phoebe follows her wild college friend Carmen to Manhattan, where the two dive right into drugs, clubs and men. It's a terribly unbalanced friendship, with Carmen firmly in the lead and Phoebe just trying to seem cool enough to tag along. This constantly reminds readers just how young Phoebe is. Carmen, with artistic, wealthy parents and a family apartment in Manhattan, is sheltered from a lot of possible consequences, but that only makes Carmen take bigger, wilder risks. And can anyone really be sheltered from addiction or heartbreak?
Full review in my book blog
d4niellec's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Definitely the fastest paced book I e read in a while, and some how exactly the story I needed right now!
janelbriana's review against another edition
2.0
The book was OK just not great. Definitely could’ve been better. I honestly thought it was gonna be more about the downtown scene in the 80s. The book overall is very lackluster. I couldn’t understand why Phoebe just literally had no backbone or no personality outside of Carmen.
The best part of the book was the end of it.
The best part of the book was the end of it.