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eveningreverie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece of thematic development. This was insanely good. Intensely readable, almost addictively so.
Not to be mean, but another reviewer said "this could have been 150 pages shorter and with no Kevin." Yeah. It definitely could have been. But then we wouldn't have the entire thematic canvas that is Kevin, and it would be a fundamentally different story. It's like saying The Secret History could've been 100 pages shorter and with neither of the twins. Or that Klara and the Sun could've been 100 pages shorter and with no Rick. Yeah, it sure could have been! Maybe the fact that they're, you know, here instead of not might make us, you know, read the book differently.
Not to be mean, but another reviewer said "this could have been 150 pages shorter and with no Kevin." Yeah. It definitely could have been. But then we wouldn't have the entire thematic canvas that is Kevin, and it would be a fundamentally different story. It's like saying The Secret History could've been 100 pages shorter and with neither of the twins. Or that Klara and the Sun could've been 100 pages shorter and with no Rick. Yeah, it sure could have been! Maybe the fact that they're, you know, here instead of not might make us, you know, read the book differently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Police brutality
drleonj's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Girlfriend on Mars threw me for a loop. The first two thirds of the novel offer a lighthearted satire of modern life as we follow Kevin and Amber, two Canadian stoners, whose early promise has gotten them no further than an apartment in Vancouver where they grow and sell weed and watch movies. Amber is inspired to audition for a reality TV show whose winners will be sent in the first — and emphatically one way — manned mission to settle Mars and realize the dreams of the ‘douchebag billionaire,’ Jeff Trask, whose Ill-gotten gains are funding the enterprise. These chapters are funny and often spot on in their skewering of Tech Bros, reality tv, social media, and modern love. Then, completely out of the blue, the novel changes tone and becomes devastatingly bleak and sad. The ending is utterly gut-wrenching. I have no problem with tragic third acts, but this one is so jarring, so unexpected, and so far removed from the first two thirds that I felt as if I’d been kicked in the stomach. So, yeah, just be prepared for that, I guess?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Suicide attempt
agador_spartacus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Infidelity, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism
alannashelfhelp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Infidelity, Mental illness, Child death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Fatphobia, and Suicide attempt
serendipitysbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Amber and Kevin are drifting through life in Vancouver, mostly dissatisfied with their jobs and making a little extra money growing marijuana and selling to their friends. Then Amber decides to enter a reality tv show competing for the chance to be a Marsonaut, travelling to Mars and establishing a human colony there.The programme and mission are funded by an eccentric billionaire looking at Mars as a sanctuary from climate crisis devastated Earth. This book explores issues like “reality” tv, social media, the climate crisis, capitalism, the role of billionaires in our society, evangelical religion, injury ending an elite sporting career, human relationships, the difficulty of finding and sustaining hope and purpose in our current world and more. While neither Kevin nor Amber were the most likeable characters I did appreciate the story being told from their two contrasting perspectives. Not the most positive of endings but overall an interesting story which touched on several crucial contemporary issues.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
kastygian's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
3.5
Amber is dissatisfied with her life and wants something more. Her boyfriend Kevin is content to continue their lives as they are. So Amber signs up for MarsNow, a reality TV competition to send two people to mars, without telling Kevin. And thus starts the unraveling of our two main characters.
The story is told in two POVs, Kevin’s first person account, and the other following Amber in third person. Rooted in the 20-teens through 2020s, the story is an all encompassing critique of modern society. Influencer culture, evil billionaires, and the overwhelming dread and doom about future society and sustainability that is the hallmark of left-leaning zillenials.
The book is funny, real and honest, sad, and sweet at times. It very easy to get into and easy to get lost in and devour half the book in one sitting. I do think the book could’ve been a little shorter, but I enjoyed my time spent with Kevin and Amber.
The story is told in two POVs, Kevin’s first person account, and the other following Amber in third person. Rooted in the 20-teens through 2020s, the story is an all encompassing critique of modern society. Influencer culture, evil billionaires, and the overwhelming dread and doom about future society and sustainability that is the hallmark of left-leaning zillenials.
The book is funny, real and honest, sad, and sweet at times. It very easy to get into and easy to get lost in and devour half the book in one sitting. I do think the book could’ve been a little shorter, but I enjoyed my time spent with Kevin and Amber.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death of parent, Cancer, and Death
Minor: Sexual assault
kassietheresa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
kimu's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
2.5
This feels like two very different books mashed together, but maybe that was the goal? The cover art is a really bad choice for the themes of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Child death
Minor: Miscarriage
ejdecoster's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Drug use
Moderate: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
emmagee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Drug use, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Abandonment