Reviews

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho

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thelittlebirdie's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-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

3.0

vannesiebp's review against another edition

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emotional relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

gabfat's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny 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

3.0

Each chapter confused me for a bit before I figured out whose point of view I was reading. That technique is interesting for a single chapter, but not for every one. I also felt tense the whole time, like I was waiting for something bad to happen. I did like Fiona and Jane as characters! Would love to see their stories more fleshed out.

kntaylor1216's review against another edition

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3.0

If you’ve read any of my previous reviews, you know books about female friendship are my absolute jam. But this book isn’t about female friendship. It’s not even about friendship. It’s about two females, that’s pretty much it.

There are times where the friendship between Jane and Fiona is the front runner, but it mostly takes a backseat to the stories of their lives, navigating their twenties without each other, navigating the decay of relationships, and trying to find themselves.

I wish the thread of friendship had been stronger, for a book whose jacket cover lauds the intensity of female friendship lasting through so many trials and so many years.

It’s easy to find yourself in the pages, comparing yourself ignoring texts, sending unanswered texts, being the childless friend, the divorced friend, the one who feels alone, wishing for her friend to be beside her again in their beat up car, driving around like the world wasn’t a scary place that can hurt you, but can also heal you.