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tessga's review
the characters didn't interest me (very unlikeable) and I just couldn't get into it.
serendipity23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
feelingpeachygreen's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This felt plotless and what plot there was felt predictable.
The characters were deeply unlikeable and there is no distinct structure for what happens to them (with the exception of Cassidy and Hamlin).
So much of this book was utterly pointless.
The background of the ecological crisis IS timely, but that's it - the rest is just meaningless mumbo jumbo pushed together to try and sound profound, recognise it's not profound, and then attempt a strange long term commentary on what it means to be profound when our cells were once fish in the sea.
Yes, society is impermanent. And this book was rubbish.
The characters were deeply unlikeable and there is no distinct structure for what happens to them (with the exception of Cassidy and Hamlin).
So much of this book was utterly pointless.
The background of the ecological crisis IS timely, but that's it - the rest is just meaningless mumbo jumbo pushed together to try and sound profound, recognise it's not profound, and then attempt a strange long term commentary on what it means to be profound when our cells were once fish in the sea.
Yes, society is impermanent. And this book was rubbish.
hannahbristol's review
3.0
I was really excited to read this book, but ultimately never found it that interesting. It’s a decent climate- influenced dystopian novel if that is what you are looking for, but definitely not one of my favorites in a genre that presents a lot of better options.
itsolivia's review
4.0
The deal: In a near-future where everyone on the West Coast has recently started drinking synthetic water, a novelist named Patrick heads on over to Hollywood to be a PA on the set of his book’s movie adaptation, which stars a hot mess celeb. Also, his wife and daughter back home embark on a different journey. Also also, some other ecological collapse stuff.
Is it worth it?: Maybe? The premise is extremely my shit, but for some reason, I was expecting more of a dark, dry humor situation. Instead, the prose is poetically descriptive and makes for an interesting contrast to the bizarre plot. If you like all of those things, it’s a solid ride. That being said, the ending wasn’t exactly satisfying for me, and I felt quite a few threads were left hanging in a way that did not feel entirely intentional.
Pairs well with: my evergreen endorsement for Alissa Nutting’s “Made For Love,” which shares a similar energy even if the writing style is wildly different.
B-
Is it worth it?: Maybe? The premise is extremely my shit, but for some reason, I was expecting more of a dark, dry humor situation. Instead, the prose is poetically descriptive and makes for an interesting contrast to the bizarre plot. If you like all of those things, it’s a solid ride. That being said, the ending wasn’t exactly satisfying for me, and I felt quite a few threads were left hanging in a way that did not feel entirely intentional.
Pairs well with: my evergreen endorsement for Alissa Nutting’s “Made For Love,” which shares a similar energy even if the writing style is wildly different.
B-
aleffert's review
3.0
This is like a four star booked mixed with a two star book. There were some parts I thought were really brilliant, but the hollywood satire, the water disaster satire (California is out of water so they use WAT-R), and the detective story were sort of fun, but obvious. The end was super bravura but it kind of tailed off unsatisfyingly? like I'm sure that was intentional but it didn't feel very satisfying and I guess missed the why