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erikwmj's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Confinement, Xenophobia, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Racism
jkull_10's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Confinement
applesodaperson's review against another edition
So my biggest problem with this book was that it was trying to do way to too much. It felt like it was trying to be a literary fiction character study, while also being a dystopian apocalypse book. But this just led to the tones of the two plot lines being drastically different, and the switch between them being very jarring.
I also just didn’t think Candace was a very compelling character.
The one thing I did like was the virus. The idea was cool, and the beginning of the pandemic was spooky and reminded me of Covid, even though this book was written before.
The reason I decided to dnf this even past the halfway point was that I just realized I did not care about what happened to the characters or how the story ended.
Listened to on Libby.
I also just didn’t think Candace was a very compelling character.
The one thing I did like was the virus. The idea was cool, and the beginning of the pandemic was spooky and reminded me of Covid, even though this book was written before.
The reason I decided to dnf this even past the halfway point was that I just realized I did not care about what happened to the characters or how the story ended.
Listened to on Libby.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Death
Minor: Pregnancy
46jjsg's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Who is this novel for? What was this novel for?? Sometimes there are stories told to just to be told and I get that- I seriously do; however, I feel so tricked into reading this because where's the satire on capitalism and the modern workforce that I was promised?? For context, I'm an Asian American immigrant who is 25F + works in corporate + in the Midwest. You would think I would be able to relate to the mc but the more I read the more I found the mc of this novel to be frustrating and by the end of the novel I was tearing my hair out like that's it?? I don't know if it's because I'm gen z but I just wanted to grab the mc by the shoulders and a scream at her to get herself together it's so embarrassing!!! I don't understand the author, am I supposed to root for Candace? Is she meant to be unlikable? I've read novels with unlikable characters (see: Wuthering Heights) but at least they have actions that revolve around a theme and you learn something as a reader or it opens up a discussion. Candace is so passive and just so emotionally detached literally pre and post shen fever that I just feel like if she doesn't care about her own life (multiple self destructive behaviors) so why should I care for her?? Candace longs for connection and the sense of belonging, but her attempts (if they can even be called that) at building meaningful relationships are so lack luster?? Like I said. Maybe it's because of my age, but I just don't get this. I like contemporaries. I like dystopians. I like nonlinear storytelling. But this novel just wasn't it. 2 stars because despite all of this, the premise is really interesting at a surface level and I'm impressed this was published pre-covid. The bar is low. Maybe I would've rated this higher if I wasn't a asian american woman myself but who knows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death of parent, and Confinement
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Terminal illness
taemaeto's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Confinement
gfiore11's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
A surprisingly thought-provoking read, Ma depicts with shocking accuracy the sensation of disassociation, and the reality of a pandemic. Laced with beautiful and specific details about the Asian-American experience in a background of tragic (but harmless) zombies.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Death, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Pandemic/Epidemic
corin_134340's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy
arayo's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Gun violence
Minor: Confinement, Xenophobia, Dementia, Sexual content, Suicide, and Vomit
desireewoodwhite's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I would probably enjoy it more as two separate well thought out stories rather than them being together.
There’s not so much room for exploration. I would love to learn more about a young woman and her distant family, her newly found motherhood in New York; and I would love to know more about this post-p*ndemic world and its survivors.
These two plots did work well together for me :( and I’m pissed, cuz it would’ve been two great books agh
There’s not so much room for exploration. I would love to learn more about a young woman and her distant family, her newly found motherhood in New York; and I would love to know more about this post-p*ndemic world and its survivors.
These two plots did work well together for me :( and I’m pissed, cuz it would’ve been two great books agh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicide
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It's literary sci-fi with plenty of commentary on immigration and late stage capitalism. I really loved the writing style and the descriptions of places. While I never completely love an open ending, I thought it worked quite well here. I wish I'd felt a little more attached to Candace but I was still gripped throughout. I haven't read many books like it but the most obvious comparison is Station Eleven, which I'm now considering re-reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness