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lisakerd's review against another edition
4.0
I know he’s a significant portion of the book, but I could have done without the Mundic character.
I loved the development between Marge and Enid! But I would have preferred a different ending.
Overall, the book left an impression on me—even though it was strange to at times feel like I was reading a fun beach read, then suddenly be smacked with heavy things like painful loss and the realities of war.
I loved the development between Marge and Enid! But I would have preferred a different ending.
Overall, the book left an impression on me—even though it was strange to at times feel like I was reading a fun beach read, then suddenly be smacked with heavy things like painful loss and the realities of war.
kelsbng's review
5.0
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. I went into it blind, I simply found it in my local library and decided to give it a shot. It seemed slightly appealing and I was desperately looking for a book to keep me occupied at the lake house over the summer, and this book definitely did the trick. If you are looking for a heartfelt book with drama and mental anguish galore, you will love this story. Told beautifully, in a way that makes you absolutely adore the protagonists, it is something that I will suggest to my friends continuously.
ldyluck's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
One of my favorites so far this year. I needed this feel good (with a little mystery) book!
idicalini's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
relaxing
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
A very entertaining, fast-paced, interesting story. I really liked the parts that focused on exploration, the preparations, the journey etc. The dark elements were a bit jarring, but still interesting. Made me curious about New Caledonia!
dreaminthepages's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars.
This started off like it was going to be a fun adventurous read with 2 polar opposite characters but then the pacing just put me off...a lot. Almost got stuck in a reading slump with this one. The middle and what probably should have been the main bulk of the book was just sooo slow and boring and not much happening but then suddenly EVERYTHING just conveniently happened in the last 20% of the story. I just sped read to try and finish this book so it could be over with.
As well as the pace, I did not enjoy the ending at all. It was so sudden and dramatic! And the fight scene with Mundic also dragged a lot.
The premise was a great idea as was the setting ad time period and I did enjoy all the different imaginative characters but often times the story felt too chaotic/all over the place/ lots of back and forth and overwhelming with too much happening like the author wanted to squish too much in.
Overall the whole friendship development was well done and loved how it really highlighted that 2 women from different walks of life and ages could be friends.
This started off like it was going to be a fun adventurous read with 2 polar opposite characters but then the pacing just put me off...a lot. Almost got stuck in a reading slump with this one. The middle and what probably should have been the main bulk of the book was just sooo slow and boring and not much happening but then suddenly EVERYTHING just conveniently happened in the last 20% of the story. I just sped read to try and finish this book so it could be over with.
As well as the pace, I did not enjoy the ending at all. It was so sudden and dramatic! And the fight scene with Mundic also dragged a lot.
The premise was a great idea as was the setting ad time period and I did enjoy all the different imaginative characters but often times the story felt too chaotic/all over the place/ lots of back and forth and overwhelming with too much happening like the author wanted to squish too much in.
Overall the whole friendship development was well done and loved how it really highlighted that 2 women from different walks of life and ages could be friends.
thisisadebut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
skylarkblue1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Representations: https://trello.com/c/QAC6AKWA/107-miss-bensons-beetle-by-rachel-joyce
CONTENT WARNING NOTES: I have no idea why people haven't been tagging this with graphic animal death and fatphobia, both are very graphic, very detailed and very much on-page. The animal death especially was really bad as it was also pet related. Hopefully sending a quick email to storygraph overrules that and adds them to the main page as that's 2 of the biggest content warnings of this book. If you write a review and add content warnings, either add them all or none at all.
I didn't think I'd like it this much when I started, but I really grew to love the 2 main MCs and really was with them for their adventure! The only thing I'm still not too sure about is the stalking sub-plot... I don't think the book needed it in all honesty. Every time it went to Mundic's POV it just felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over.
I really liked the characters - except Mundic lmao - and despite being a bit weary at first I really liked Enid's and Margery by the end and grew to appreciate them through the book. There's really strong character development through the 2 women bonding and becoming firm friends and I really liked how their (platonic) relationship grew. I also appreciated that despite a lot of talks around past relationships and such, there's no actual on-page romance which was a very nice breath of fresh air.
Mundic was both complicated, and very 2D feeling. His whole character was this prisoner of war, PTSD troubled man and every chapter from him was just this breakdown of all his delusions and mental health just snapping. I honestly think this book would be almost perfect if he was either removed, or his chapters where removed and we didn't see his POV - I think that would have made the ending a lot more impactful... cause honestly even with his POV chapters I don't really know what the point of his character is.
The story was really good, I loved reading a realistic adventure - I can't really think of any books like this that I've read and honestly I want more! Normally when I read an adventure book, it's fantasy and mainly middle grade, so an adult adventure book seeking beetles was really quite interesting to me. Though I do wish there was more on the actual searching part, that was quite little compared to the rest, they where some of my favourite parts! The main story is just about the 2 women trying to survive, trying to work out what their true goals are and what they care most about in life. Alongside the mysteries of who people actually are....
The themes where quite obvious, it was nice to have a book a about female empowerment and friendship without romance getting in the way though. Morally grey women and impulsive actions was pretty fun to read - though I still have some questions about stuff that happened like at the very start.. what *did* happen with Marge quitting the school? Was that just a mental breakdown?
I think it's set up to have twists, but the way information is provided it's pretty obvious while reading without thinking that much who is who and who's done what. But the story beats towards the end doesn't lean that much on them being a surprise so it doesn't matter that much. I found this to be quite a quick read, I read through it in a couple sittings, it was a pretty easy read as well which was quite nice.
CONTENT WARNING NOTES: I have no idea why people haven't been tagging this with graphic animal death and fatphobia, both are very graphic, very detailed and very much on-page. The animal death especially was really bad as it was also pet related. Hopefully sending a quick email to storygraph overrules that and adds them to the main page as that's 2 of the biggest content warnings of this book. If you write a review and add content warnings, either add them all or none at all.
I didn't think I'd like it this much when I started, but I really grew to love the 2 main MCs and really was with them for their adventure! The only thing I'm still not too sure about is the stalking sub-plot... I don't think the book needed it in all honesty. Every time it went to Mundic's POV it just felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over.
I really liked the characters - except Mundic lmao - and despite being a bit weary at first I really liked Enid's and Margery by the end and grew to appreciate them through the book. There's really strong character development through the 2 women bonding and becoming firm friends and I really liked how their (platonic) relationship grew. I also appreciated that despite a lot of talks around past relationships and such, there's no actual on-page romance which was a very nice breath of fresh air.
Mundic was both complicated, and very 2D feeling. His whole character was this prisoner of war, PTSD troubled man and every chapter from him was just this breakdown of all his delusions and mental health just snapping. I honestly think this book would be almost perfect if he was either removed, or his chapters where removed and we didn't see his POV - I think that would have made the ending a lot more impactful... cause honestly even with his POV chapters I don't really know what the point of his character is.
The story was really good, I loved reading a realistic adventure - I can't really think of any books like this that I've read and honestly I want more! Normally when I read an adventure book, it's fantasy and mainly middle grade, so an adult adventure book seeking beetles was really quite interesting to me. Though I do wish there was more on the actual searching part, that was quite little compared to the rest, they where some of my favourite parts! The main story is just about the 2 women trying to survive, trying to work out what their true goals are and what they care most about in life. Alongside the mysteries of who people actually are....
The themes where quite obvious, it was nice to have a book a about female empowerment and friendship without romance getting in the way though. Morally grey women and impulsive actions was pretty fun to read - though I still have some questions about stuff that happened like at the very start.. what *did* happen with Marge quitting the school? Was that just a mental breakdown?
I think it's set up to have twists, but the way information is provided it's pretty obvious while reading without thinking that much who is who and who's done what. But the story beats towards the end doesn't lean that much on them being a surprise so it doesn't matter that much. I found this to be quite a quick read, I read through it in a couple sittings, it was a pretty easy read as well which was quite nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Colonisation, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: War, Miscarriage, and Gun violence
amymarchlawrence's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
cmbwell's review
3.0
This was recommended to me as something that’s quirky and light and funny. It has some quirky and a bit of funny, but it’s darker than I wanted.