Reviews

Sunset by Jessie Cave

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actualresultsmayvary's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

Rating for after book club: 3 stars
This is a really hard book for me to review because it feels like it's a book about grief for people going through it but I just haven't experienced this type of loss and so can't really relate to most of it.
Sharing my name and age with Ruth's dead sister was a bit of a jarring experience going through the book, but that is a personal issue rather than a book one.
I liked the portrayal of the relationship between Ruth and Rowan, it felt very real and is exactly the sort of thing I could see myself doing in their situation.
The book was fast paced and easy to read and probably is an accurate portrayal of grief but ultimately it just fell flat for me and whilst I had a fine time with it, I would be surprised if I ever think about it again.

amberwesttt's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

e_wood's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emilypilling97's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

ellieoopsie's review against another edition

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Despite the subject matter, this was a very easy read. It didn't take more than a couple of pages to get hooked in. Apparently, it's been compared to Fleabag, which makes a lot of sense. It it raw and cutting, and a bit funny.

daisyisawitch's review against another edition

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I listened to the audiobook and I am usually no fan of audiobook voices but me not finishing this book has for once nothing to do with the narrator. I found the voice quite fitting actually.

What I will say, however, don't just spring at me within the first few pages that you're using your sisters vibrator and making a gum mountain on the wall out of laziness. Using the vibrator of your sibling is beyond gross and shouldn't be a thing.

Also forgetting to clean it and shutting it off and leaving it like that over night. I get it you're grieving but that is next level. I can't get over the vibrator thing. Ruth used it even before she was grieving. She has an unhealthy obsession with her sister.

And the audacity for Ruth to say:

"I've never been a particularly messy person but I guess I am now."

Really, Ruth? Really?

As soon as I read the word

'cliff' I saw the plot play out before my eyes.
And the Rowan thing.. I was 100% with Ruth that dating 8 months after your girlfriend died tragically is a bit early so fuck off Rowan.
As soon as there were hints that Ruth and Rowan might hook up I was internally begging for a different turn of events. But then they did hook up of course, I hated it with every fiber of my being. Being intimate with the same partner as your sibling is something I can't look past in books.
I get that Sunset wants to portray grief but Ruth was a next level annoying messy person to begin with and I can't forgive the hook up with Rowan. I just don't want to hear about it anymore so I stopped.