Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Counterfeit: A Novel by Kirstin Chen

12 reviews

hmwoodward's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This was a very quick listen on audio with a solid narrator.

The story starts with a conversation that you quickly learn is the main character speaking to a detective about a counterfeit scheme gone wrong. So, you know it ends with her giving details to the authorities and don't know how it got to that point.

The book wasn't predictable and it does a great job of closing out loose ends. However, I think the last part moved way too fast - especially the last 10%. 

Overall, it was a solid read but nothing spectacular that I feel the need to recommend it to others. You will be entertained the whole time you read it though! Great book for anyone who loves "women's wrongs" and "girl boss" types of stories. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Classism, Medical content, Racism, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Pregnancy

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Pregnancy, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Death, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship

brandie_abbie19's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Addiction, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Xenophobia

bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition

hopeful 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Xenophobia, Death, and Ableism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, and Death of parent

kalehouse's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious 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

3.0

(audio book) this was very middle of the road, nothing was super compelling characters or plot. actually, i really hated eva at first and the only thing that kept me listening was the hope that she couldn’t possibly be *that* annoying. she was redeemed towards the second half! still, this was pretty slow and i couldn’t relate much to eva. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, and Alcohol

cursedepub's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious fast-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

4.0

a fast-paced, exciting, smart, and compelling book that i read in 3 hours on a sunday night. witty and evocative prose, deeply interesting characters, great insights into the American dream and to Asian-American culture, and, for me, a happy ending. the playfulness with reader biases, unreliable narration, and point of view was super enjoyable too. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death of parent and Alcoholism

cassielaj's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Counterfeit is a TRIP. The framing of Ava’s story as an interview with a detective is genius, and the twist was employed at just the right moment to throw everything into perspective. I was thoroughly entertained throughout the whole book and loved Ava and Winnie’s scheming. The way Chen reframes the traditional “American dream” narrative and questions the “model minority” trope is smart, hilarious, and totally enthralling. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Minor: Terminal illness and Death of parent

vaniavela's review against another edition

adventurous funny

• 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? Yes

4.0

This is an easy read. The story begins with a first-person narration by Ava, who narrates her experiences with Winnie to the detective. Ava is not really likable, but she had good character development. That said, aside from her and Winnie, the other characters have no personality at all. They all seem really one dimensional. 

Through this book we not only get an interesting premise, but insight into complex issues such as family expectations, consumerism, and labor exploitation.

Unfortunately it was a bit difficult to read because there were no quotation marks through most of the book. Being honest, I don't like that style of writing, especially since there is a lot of talking and no action. 

Overall it was a great book, but I'm hoping for better!

tw: toxic friendship, toxic relationship, xenophobia, racism, alcoholism, medical content.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Medical content, Racism, and Alcoholism

anntharai's review against another edition

funny reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I read this on a recommendation and without reading the blurb and I’m so glad I did. It was genuinely funny and interesting, and I definitely thought it was going to end a lot darker than it did. 

I thought there was going to be a time shift twist or some heavy foreshadowing payoff -  the plane Winnie gets on was going to be the one that crashed in Ava’s testimony/another plane with the same counterfeit part issue. If this was intentional from the author bravo it worked, if not maybe I’m a bit grim hahah)

Though I did have to look up a lot of the bags to understand some of the designer humour 😂. 

I liked the structure and the style, plus the narrator Catherine Ho did a phenomenal job.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Grief, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

Minor: Ableism

erinmjustice's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, Racism, and Death of parent

Minor: Terminal illness and Ableism