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andlivloves's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
This book was very different from what I thought it'd be about. It is about beauty capital, but rather than being some big beauty related plot, it's more of a look at how beauty as capital is experienced in the lives of women who don't have many other forms of privilege in their lives. I thought all of their stories were very interesting, despite being a little mundane at times. The only thing to watch out for is that the narratives are uneven. For a book that claims to be about four women, there is definitely one protagonist. I didn't mind it, but I see how it could be a point of contention for others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicide and Miscarriage
booksjessreads's review against another edition
This is the second time I have tried to read this book and I really struggled to keep reading. I found the lack of a plot line difficult to follow. Despite this, I have annotated the hell out of the first 120 pages that I had read because there were some really interesting themes running through but I just felt as though this book was not for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Violence, Suicide, Abortion, and Ableism
c_lizziebeth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage and Suicide
katievh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexism, and Body shaming
Moderate: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Suicide
jchtilianova's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed reading this book, I finished it in less than 24 hours. I enjoyed the setting, all the girls, and hearing their stories. It is an incredibly short book though and like other reviews suggest I think there were too many topics to actually deeply explore in such a short span of time. I was definitely longing to hear more of all the stories but I suppose in the end it did all wrap up well enough. The parts that weren’t gone into detail about my mind can easily fill in the gaps. Overall, it was a very enjoyable book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Suicide, and Fatphobia
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
michelarod's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Violence
Minor: Suicide
dearbhlanoonan's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child abuse, Sexual content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol
parton4proletariat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked this book! It was hard to remember who was who sometimes since its a large ensemble, but the characters were unique and had distinct voices. I particularly liked Ara and Miho, and I liked how complex Kyuri was.
my biggest critique of multi-perspective books is that it tends to make it difficult to connect with the characters. I did not have that issue with this book. I found myself caring about all of them.
my biggest critique of multi-perspective books is that it tends to make it difficult to connect with the characters. I did not have that issue with this book. I found myself caring about all of them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Suicide, Alcohol, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Miscarriage
kaitray16's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Suicide
potatokao's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
an intimate look into each of the women’s lives ranging in their 20s, living in seoul. the way it was written with perspective changes shows their raw and honest thoughts about their individual struggles and responses to their environment. things you wouldnt want to say out loud. it makes the characters more whole, neither good nor bad, a product of their upbringing. heavy themes of friendship, family, in laws, women in society.
at first i felt like the pace and setting the author set made it so that the girls were only suffering and not able to enjoy anything in life and it made me sad to get into the book. maybe halfway when the plot seems to progress a little more, the characters become more active and living.
the connections between all the girls is what makes the book. i love how intertwined they are. they judge each other, they love each other, they get annoyed, they care, they go through life together. not the best of friends, but clearly helped by each other’s company. not family, but all they have for some of them. people who are important to them and people they can be honest with.
i only wish i didnt have to wait half way into the book to see that and there are some parts of their past that are never fully explained. but i understand it’s hard to develop individual characters AND their relationship with one another. once all the characters and their backgrounds are in place, it is well worth it to get to know them.
the ending of the book is what makes it for me. this gradual warmth and hope, like spring air has blown in. it could have ended in any way but this warm ending is what makes me feel that their connection is so full of love and care. life isnt going to suddenly be better but i hope they stay together and work through life together. sending hugs to the girls.
at first i felt like the pace and setting the author set made it so that the girls were only suffering and not able to enjoy anything in life and it made me sad to get into the book. maybe halfway when the plot seems to progress a little more, the characters become more active and living.
the connections between all the girls is what makes the book. i love how intertwined they are. they judge each other, they love each other, they get annoyed, they care, they go through life together. not the best of friends, but clearly helped by each other’s company. not family, but all they have for some of them. people who are important to them and people they can be honest with.
i only wish i didnt have to wait half way into the book to see that and there are some parts of their past that are never fully explained. but i understand it’s hard to develop individual characters AND their relationship with one another. once all the characters and their backgrounds are in place, it is well worth it to get to know them.
the ending of the book is what makes it for me. this gradual warmth and hope, like spring air has blown in. it could have ended in any way but this warm ending is what makes me feel that their connection is so full of love and care. life isnt going to suddenly be better but i hope they stay together and work through life together. sending hugs to the girls.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Bullying
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Sexism
Minor: Suicide and Rape