Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - People Person

TW // British

Very funny. As an only child who grew up with a somewhat absent father, and knowing the secondhand experience my friends had of being one of many children, this hit home. The book is very real in many ways.

Dimple going off on Lizzie, then the next day everyone continuing on like nothing had happened. I imagine that's what it was like after I'd left my friend's houses.

There's something about it I can't explain that I really connected to. Overall, though, the message about family hit my soft spot.

Content Warnings

laurataylor's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

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caseythereader's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

4.25

Thanks to Gallery Books for the free advance copy of this book.

- PEOPLE PERSON is one of those rare books that manages to explore some heavy and dark topics while being hilarious the entire way through.
- I'll not discuss the plot too much, as the bulk of the book centers around something not given away in the book summary - you just gotta read it to see!
- I adored the Pennington siblings, and being there with them while they tried to figure out how to be there for each other when they had grown up so differently (and yet so similarly, at the same time).
- Carty-Williams is just so great and giving her characters voices and lives that feel completely real. I'm a fan for life.

Content Warnings

travelseatsreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I read and loved Queenie but for some reason when I read the blurb of People Person I wasn't overly pushed to go and read it, then I saw @5inead enjoying it on her story so of course FOMO kicked in and I had to request it. I'm really glad I gave in to the self-inflicted peer pressure as it was a really enjoyable read and listen.

First thing I'm going to mention is that the story is a little bit unrealistic, so cast that aside at the start of the book and then sit in for some fantastic characters, cringe worthy family moments and some great sibling bonding.

The book centers around Cyril Pennington and the five children (that he admits to having) by four different mothers. The children all live seemingly unconnected lives not knowing each other until one day Cyril decides they all should meet so that they don't end up accidentally @coupling' up. Fast forward 10 years later to when out of the blue Dimple calls on the eldest sister Nikisha to help her get out of a rather prickly situation she has herself landed in. The troops rally around Dimple and what unfolds is an entertaining exploration of their characters and previously unknown strength as a family unit.

Carty-Williams has written a host of brilliantly fleshed out, honest and quite likable characters which are so engaging and authentic that it's easy to get caught up and carried away with the story line. She highlights the beauty of family coming together in a time of need and protecting each other at all costs, even against those who should have been protecting them.

I switched between ebook and audio and while both were great I have to save the audio was fantastic, Cyril's character especially came to life far more vibrantly through the audio.

Is this book a bit flawed with some run away flighty moments that have you thinking 'Really?' Yes, but in saying that I laughed so much through out, while also having a few near tear moments. I enjoyed every minute of it and would love to see any or all of the characters followed up on in their own book.

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nialiversuch's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-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

3.0

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idealpages's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Fans of Queenie know it’s been a long and eager wait for Carty-Williams next outing, and People Person so worth the wait.

People Person is a very emotional book wrapped up in an entertaining tale of five siblings, who are essentially strangers, coming together in unexpected circumstances. The book explores feelings of self-worth and the bonds of family; from sibling dynamics to generational legacies and origins, all of which Carty-Williams writes with razor sharp observations of the world we live in, especially with respect to social media.

The Pennington siblings were all likeable, interesting and shrewdly developed. They were messy, sarcastic, naive and occasionally annoying, but they were genuine. They perfectly encapsulated flawed and meaningful people doing their best to understand themselves and each other, which in turn, perfectly captured the growing pains of (later in life) sibling relationships. And as for the patriarch responsible for the brood… I really appreciated Carty-Williams summing it up as “it is what it is” when it comes to an absentee parent.

People Person primarily unfolds through the middle sibling, Dimple. Dimple’s character captures the experience many people have of living their life through social media, navigating the waters of trying to achieve “influencer” status. Her performing persona and desperation were portrayed flawlessly; illuminating a typically overlooked consequence of social media and people’s subsequent obsession of reaching the standards involved in virtual success and appeal.

Emotive, a little dark in its tone with laugh out loud hilarious moments, People Person may be a little far fetched here and there, nevertheless it was extremely entertaining and packed a punch in its sleek commentary. I really enjoyed it.

If you loved Queenie or the familial dynamics found in Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising, then People Person is not to be missed.

Thank you kindly to the publishers for providing me with an eARC in exchange for this honest review.

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