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mirandaz's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mcnemma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
annelore_joy's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nrmdova's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tense!! Chaotic!! Reminds me of Raven Leilani’s Luster a lot. A bad decision making girly, an inaccurate read on male behavior, and an ever changing cast of characters, unsettling hijinks ensue
jessi_mares's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
corinnaed's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ashleyraemc's review
5.0
This was my first time reading a book by Cline. I am disappointed in myself for not picking up any of her work sooner but now I know.
I enjoyed this book immensely, which might be strange because this is not a fun book. Although it takes place in the summer, you are not in for a fun summer beach. Instead, we follow Alex, a twenty-two-year-old who kind of sucks, through a week before a special labor day party that will solve all of her problems.
I like the fact that Alex doesn't want to change her ways. It makes her more human to me. She keeps getting herself into situations that aren't good for her, and in at least one situation, she is the problem. She is a big problem that she does nothing to fix and tries to use the situation to help herself. Alex keeps running away from her problems and to the arms of any random man. Her presence brings chaos and ruin but subtly. She ruins some aspect of every situation she gets into, then runs to the next man, and it starts over.
Alex is very messy and apathetic to the fact that she is this way. This makes her a fascinating character in that regard. It captures the energy of being a floundering person in their early twenties quite well. However, I hope most of us that age are not as problematic as Alex. It also emphasizes the attitude that people can have where if some random thing in their life happens, here the labor day party, everything will be great, and all the problems will be solved. This obviously is not true, but something very easy to think at times.
I also found it interesting that Alex has little to no background, something that Jack comments on. We don't know why she is the way she is, whether she's had a rough life or she's just not a great person. I'm glad the backstory wasn't added and is more left up for interpretation. The current events and story stand alone. It will be easy for readers to interpret their version of why Alex is like this.
This book confounded me and made me a bit depressed and nihilistic but in the best way. I think that was the point. Cline is a stunning and intelligent writer. This book hit all the right notes for me. "The Girls" has just made its way to the top of my tbr after this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced reader copy! Release date: May 16 2023
I enjoyed this book immensely, which might be strange because this is not a fun book. Although it takes place in the summer, you are not in for a fun summer beach. Instead, we follow Alex, a twenty-two-year-old who kind of sucks, through a week before a special labor day party that will solve all of her problems.
I like the fact that Alex doesn't want to change her ways. It makes her more human to me. She keeps getting herself into situations that aren't good for her, and in at least one situation, she is the problem. She is a big problem that she does nothing to fix and tries to use the situation to help herself. Alex keeps running away from her problems and to the arms of any random man. Her presence brings chaos and ruin but subtly. She ruins some aspect of every situation she gets into, then runs to the next man, and it starts over.
Alex is very messy and apathetic to the fact that she is this way. This makes her a fascinating character in that regard. It captures the energy of being a floundering person in their early twenties quite well. However, I hope most of us that age are not as problematic as Alex. It also emphasizes the attitude that people can have where if some random thing in their life happens, here the labor day party, everything will be great, and all the problems will be solved. This obviously is not true, but something very easy to think at times.
I also found it interesting that Alex has little to no background, something that Jack comments on. We don't know why she is the way she is, whether she's had a rough life or she's just not a great person. I'm glad the backstory wasn't added and is more left up for interpretation. The current events and story stand alone. It will be easy for readers to interpret their version of why Alex is like this.
This book confounded me and made me a bit depressed and nihilistic but in the best way. I think that was the point. Cline is a stunning and intelligent writer. This book hit all the right notes for me. "The Girls" has just made its way to the top of my tbr after this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced reader copy! Release date: May 16 2023
juliahohl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kayteewisley's review
4.0
this is probably more a 3.5 but rounding up because 3 isn’t quite right. this book felt like having a very mild anxiety attack for the full time i spent listening to it (but like in an interesting way) & i enjoyed it up until the abrupt end. felt like a lot of build up to then just end the book.
kemcgarr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5