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a_lowney's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.25
sashapasha's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
This is objectively a pretty good book with evocative writing and complicated characters. I didn’t necessarily always like the characters, particularly the MC, Jayne, but that’s not the point. Jayne is both unlikable at times and highly relatable at others. She’s the sort of person who has an extremely judgmental outlook and can’t stop measuring and comparing herself and other people, which generates a lot of negativity and self-loathing in her life. She’s also occasionally the sort of person who doesn’t text someone back because she wants them to be worried about her. She has a LOT of maturing to do, though she definitely takes steps in the right direction toward the end of the novel.
Her relationship with her sister was so well-captured. Deeply complicated yet somehow still semi-functional and the thing I personally found most relatable about the book. As one of my favorite lines states: “Families are such fucked up tiny cults.”
This is objectively a pretty good book with evocative writing and complicated characters. I didn’t necessarily always like the characters, particularly the MC, Jayne, but that’s not the point. Jayne is both unlikable at times and highly relatable at others. She’s the sort of person who has an extremely judgmental outlook and can’t stop measuring and comparing herself and other people, which generates a lot of negativity and self-loathing in her life. She’s also occasionally the sort of person who doesn’t text someone back because she wants them to be worried about her. She has a LOT of maturing to do, though she definitely takes steps in the right direction toward the end of the novel.
Her relationship with her sister was so well-captured. Deeply complicated yet somehow still semi-functional and the thing I personally found most relatable about the book. As one of my favorite lines states: “Families are such fucked up tiny cults.”
soapy's review against another edition
5.0
just a fantastic book… the writing is absolutely stellar. around the start i was thinking this book would rest as a glad-i-read-it-won’t-go-back middling 3 or 4 star book, but as i read on i realized it may very well be one of the best books i’ve ever read. at heart it’s about someone choosing to believe and have hope in themselves, and that always gets me. the bravest thing to do. will be reading Mary H.K. Choi’s other works and certainly looking forward to future pieces.
booklover81's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
viviank_'s review against another edition
2.0
2.5*
it’s not a bad book. it’s just a very character driven story and i didn’t feel that connected to the characters. very good depiction on mental health and eating disorders tho. i related to some aspects being asian as well.
it’s not a bad book. it’s just a very character driven story and i didn’t feel that connected to the characters. very good depiction on mental health and eating disorders tho. i related to some aspects being asian as well.
mnm1015's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
belleakuvi's review against another edition
4.0
i thjnk i need to digest this book a bit more and then i’ll maybe change my review!!! i did really enjoy it tho and i like books with the sort of complicated family dynamic ig
eliza_janiel's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aelxia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder and Cancer