Reviews

Common Decency by Susannah Dickey

laurataylor's review

dark reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

easyvisionary's review

4.0

I’m sad for Shiv. Lily really wrecked her shit. Kicked her while she was down just because she forgot who she was. She’s insane! I get it but also I don’t. I have a dead mum too get a grip!

sooze96's review against another edition

funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mcfessie's review against another edition

3.0

Found Siobhan really relatable, Lilly and the rest of the story not so much. Felt it lagged in some spots and there were some missed opportunities for the actual narrative. 

Read interesting facts about space after this book which has some similar (ish) ideas about breaking into apartments but felt that book dealt with that story way better

nicolejbe's review

emotional sad 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

3.0

alifetoldthroughbooks's review

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

recycledwords's review

4.0

Two young neighbours are each struggling with loneliness.

Lily is a solitary creature grieving the recent loss of her mother, whom she seems to have had quite a codependent life with. She doesn't seem to have many other friends and envies her neighbour for the careless way in which she treats her friendships.

Siobhán has many friends but is hyperfocused on her secret relationship with a married man. The relationship causes much distress which she can't share with others and distracts her from both her work and her friends.

Lily's obsession with Siobhán starts to take on a more sinister tone. There is a build up of tension which is never really resolved, instead the book ends rather abruptly with an unsatisfying anticlimax.

I enjoyed this as a reflection on loneliness but felt the plot had more to give and was ended too soon.

aagyaprdhn's review

funny sad medium-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

2.5

the blurb really makes this book seems more exciting than it is💀 very inconsequential plot, characters are hard to like/care for

sheridanling's review

reflective medium-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

3.0

I think up until the last 10% of the book it was sitting at a 3/5 rating, but I just really did not like that ending.

Everything felt unfinished and up in the air. I think it was supposed to be an interpretive ending but I just didn't like it.

The characters were also just so unlikeable! I think this was possibly purposeful to promote the introspective self-reflection the book encourages, but ultimately meant I did not enjoy the book as much as I could have.

I think the writing style was also a bit pretentious, whether that be representative of the characters or not, it was annoying! There were some beautifully written passages though, and I enjoyed the reflections on death, relationships and emotions.

helloooooree's review

dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25