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crystalmethany's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction and Animal death
Minor: Mental illness and Medical content
hannuhrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death and Drug abuse
swestlake's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexual content
triceratopper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, and Alcohol
Moderate: Racism and Blood
hannahb1533's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Overall this story was... a struggle for me.
Had I been reading a physical copy and not listening to it, I may have DNF'd it. And not because Jenny Lee's writing style is bad or because she isn't a compelling story teller, because she is. No, my real struggle was trying to sympathize with rich, spoiled high schoolers.
This book got 3 stars instead of 2 from me because of Lee's ability to tell a story along with Jenna's narrations. I only liked maybe one character really (Dustin. Kimmie also had some redeeming qualities) which isn't surprising since that one character was the only one not rolling in their parents money and living a life of privilege's so may of us will never know.
The story works as a retelling of Anna Karenina, it does what it is supposed to do to be that. This is like if Anna Karenina and Gossip Girl had a baby. But I had to constantly remind myself that these were high schoolers. Between the sex (this book has more graphic detail than anything else I have read that is considered YA), the casual drug use with no repercussions (in most cases), the cheating, and the overarching feeling that high school love is the end-all-be-all I found myself unable to relate on so many levels.
The characters are built well though, you understand all of their individual personalities and what makes them tic, which is hard with so many characters in one story. And the pacing of the book does keep you on your toes about what may happen next. Lee is clearly a very skilled writer. But for me I just can't score it higher because I just cannot get over the overflowing privilege's. Even though I know that is the point at time I was so frustrated listening to these characters and their lives.
Should I give the sequel a try? Will it solve some of the problems I had (can Steven please be forced to come to terms with his drug use?)? Or will I just get frustrated all over again?
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
gabbygarcia's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Jenna Ushkowitz is perfect.
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Racism, Sexism, and Death of parent
egmamaril's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Drug abuse
samchase112's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
This was a solid read. If you're not familiar, this book is a retelling of Anna Karenina (the classic Russian epic) which takes place in the rich upper society of New York. And when I say retelling, I mean pretty much to the T. The plot is followed fairly religiously, the characters are just as unbearably terrible (but in a good way?), and very similar questions are explored. Seriously, the lifestyle these characters lead is pretty terrible to read about, because yes, their lives are insane and filled with extreme expectations and extreme downfalls, but at the same time every single one of them (besides Dustin/Levin and Kitty, the real mvps) takes their life and wealth for granted. I will say that I enjoyed Anna more here than in the original, probably because she was a teenager and thus more forgiven for her mistakes than, say, a grown woman with children who she neglects for a young hot Vronsky. There were some great twists to the story, especially at the end, and everything tied together well. When I think back to Anna Karenina, however, I will remember my experience with the original and likely forget about this (well done, perfectly fine) retelling.
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Stalking, and Car accident
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Antisemitism
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
But there were so many characters to follow and that made it challenging right off the bat. I know there was a cast of characters listed in the book, but listening to an audiobook, I couldn't easily access those to keep track. And even if I had been reading a physical copy, I think I would've gotten confused. There were even super similar names that had me feeling upside down and backward a few times.
In addition, the fact that this book was YA with such intense sexual overtones made me really uncomfortable. It's one thing to read about it when it's an adult book, but we were talking about 15-year-olds watching other kids have sex (and describing the acts) and that just made me feel gross.
I know the story of Anna Karenina, so I wasn't terribly surprised by the way things played out, since it followed that storyline pretty closely. The whole book was just incredibly long for not much actually happening - or a lot happening but nothing fruitful? I don't know, but it wasn't what I hoped for, I guess.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship