Reviews

Utopia by Heidi Sopinka

leilapulaski's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Quite a niche genre, but the novel entrenched in the art world centering a complicated female protagonist just WORKS for me. The other book that immediately comes to mind is Indelicacy by Amina Cain. Both of those two were total surprise pickups, and I LOVE them both. There were so many moments in this book that I really felt I had no choice but to highlight because the writing was so strong. Really great and striking writing and one of the most completely immersive examples of setting I can remember having read-- really puts you in the fucking desert in the 1970s (lol). Would recommend to anyone who follows the female rage/ambivalent female narrator/flighty female protagonist category of book! Only thing that keeps me from making it a full 5 star rating is that some of the commentary on men/feminism/womanhood felt a bit obvious and out of place among an otherwise really strong work. Altogether though, an incredibly strong and compelling novel that feels very unique while simultaneously being able to fit into this female rage genre that is incredibly popular right now.

the_bibliophiles's review

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

imogenrose97's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

gracefelstead's review

challenging mysterious sad 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? No

3.0

I liked this book a lot more in theory than in practice.

The setting & themes are intriguing, but I don't feel that they were executed in a way that holds the readers attention. I found myself struggling to finish this & wishing it was over so I could move on to something else.

Also, the last chapter is just a bit silly. the story would have been a lot stronger if we didn't suddenly cut to 40 years later &

have a conversation with a ghost.

alisonburnis's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

In the 1970s Los Angeles art scene, Romy is an artist who works with light, married to Billy, another artist who’s starting to gain traction. They have a seven week old baby. But one night at a party, Romy falls off the roof and dies. The only witness is Billy. 

Short months after she dies, Paz, another young artist who was a deep admirer of Romy’s, marries Billy, stepping into Romy’s life. But as she haunts Romy’s life, she starts to think there’s something terribly wrong around the circumstances of Romy’s death - and she sets out to find it. 

I’m having a real run with books set in the 1970s this year, for whatever reason. Utopia was a slowly electrifying read, a story preoccupied with art and mystery. Sopinka’s writing here is deeply immersive and compelling, and her power in sharing the way Paz feels about the life she’s come to inhabit through her love for Flea, Romy and Billy’s daughter, was really well done. This was a slow burn for me: I was a bit hesitant as I started it but fell in love with the storytelling as I made my way through it. 

laura_reads_'s review

dark reflective medium-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

3.0

leahmol's review

dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

smallcasualbooktok's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

REEEEALLY loved everything until the end ugh

elle_breen's review

emotional hopeful reflective tense 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

4.5

Beautifully written, addictive and feminist - everything I need. Only for me the meeting with spirit Romy at the end was a bit too long and OTT for me, only lost a half though as she mentions Plath on the last page 

kyliemaslen's review

4.0

compulsive, smart and searing. would be a perfect big brained beach read.