Reviews

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

tmspinks's review against another edition

dark funny slow-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

4.5

sophhes's review against another edition

they cancelled my online library card because it’s too old :(

alice_u's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

alexandriaslibrary's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A messy, sapphic romp! Greta is a 40-something yr old with some major mommy and abandonment issues). After a breakup she impulsively moves cross country to upstate New York where the people are more woo-woo hipsters than those in LA. She gets hired by the town's sex therapist to transcribe his sessions and becomes obsessed with the voice and sessions of Big Swiss (a local married Swedish woman who was brutally attacked a decade prior and has never felt a big O) who she then meets in town and begins an affair with.

I found the transcription writing super interesting. The dialogue is so sharp, witty, and insightful and it helps move the plot. There were some subplots that felt a little distracting/heightened for the sake of heightening. Also the sexual dynamic between Greta and Big Swiss was a bit peculiar and robotic, but I think the bright point of their relationship was more about the sneaking/trauma/reveals/and the chance to hear the uncensored inner thoughts of your partner.

mahika153's review against another edition

fast-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

spreenie's review against another edition

funny 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

3.0

sierraslaughter's review against another edition

3.0

I struggled to comprehend the main characters relationship even remotely. I just wasn’t buying it. A lot of the dialogue fell flat for me too. It is very cool to have Hudson as a character in this book though. Easy read which I appreciate. 

lilyjar's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.5

ly_didi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

3.75

Such a fun read about a middle-aged woman, living in a rundown house full of bees and becoming infatuated with a much younger woman.

Loved the witty dialogue, and descriptions of characters even though it was sometimes trying too hard to be weird. The last bit of the book was a bit disappointing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

irlposer's review against another edition

emotional funny 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