Reviews

Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

pawswithabook's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Married, with grown up daughters and a teenage grandson, seventy four year old Antiguan born Barrington Jedidiah Walker, Barry, for the past 60 years, has been in a secret relationship with the love of his life, Morris. 

I adore Bernadine Evaristo’s writing, and this book is another triumph as she brings life to her characters by adopting their style and language.

The characters are so real and flawed, but oh so lovable… so vibrant they dance from the pages. I felt like I was experiencing life with them, and absolutely fell in love with Morris myself.  

This is a book about complicated families, about the fear that prejudice causes, about the joy and sadness love can bring, about identity and belonging. It has serious points of reflection but the writing is full of energy, with an uplifting bounce and flows beautifully. 

I LOVED this book and cannot wait to see the characters brought to life in the BBC adaptation. I’m not sure of the date but it can’t come soon enough!

samiara's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.5

darceybm's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition

Lol. So I picked this up thinking it was going to be a lighthearted comedy feat. the sexcapades of some cheeky scoundrel, but.

It kind of is about that: the scoundrel is certainly cheeky, and since we are getting the story from his POV, all the damage he causes is minimised and rationalised away, which makes for fascinating reading. Barry is a great voice, his turns of phrase and endless charm (as he sees himself) is fun to read. But then, under the surface of that, the lies. The emotional, psychological fallout of his decisions and choices, and my sympathy for his situation rapidly diminished as I read on.

Loved how Evaristo included the stream of consciousness chapters from his wife's POV. Her bewilderment and hurt regarding her husband's behaviour, his lack of affection was heartbreaking. I found myself actively hoping that she'd go out and have an affair of her own, not just to even the score, but so she got to experience genuine LOVE at some point. And things are tied up neatly(ish) in a way that is gratifying if still bittersweet.

boekenalsontbijt's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

kangaroo1990's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

nicolaparty's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Homophobia, Violence, and Infidelity

harrisontown's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective fast-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

5.0

mercapto's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

An unflinching portrayal of what it means to live a lie. Is easy to see how it affects the one keeping secrets, but the fallout is so much bigger.

And yet, despite the outdated views of the protagonists, the homophobia (both outward and internalised), the misogyny… they’re so human. So understandable. Who hasn’t met older people who say the wrong things, but from ignorance rather than hate? I wanted so badly for Barry and Morris to be happy together, but at the same time could see they didn’t think how their wives actually feel, that they are their own people with their own lives. 

Carmel’s chapters remind us that we all live in a world made from our own perceptions, it’s not black and white. Who Carmel is as a person is so different to who Barry sees, the same with the children and their views of their father. I’m glad it was Carmel who initiated the divorce - she needed that, she needed to let go, to free herself. 

And while he makes excuses the whole book, by the end he acknowledges that. He feels guilt, he really processes that just because he was hurting doesn’t mean other people weren’t too. I’m glad that Maxine showed him the world like he’d never seen it, educated him, and that he changed. That he wrote the letter even if he knew she wouldn’t accept it. 

I really did enjoy this, and think it was a very nuanced and sensitive portrayal of a deeply complicated topic. 

hannahclare44's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0