Reviews

Boca Raton by Lauren Groff

Only show reviews with written explanations

This story focuses more on the emotional upheaval when you're confronted with some of the horrors of pollution and climate change when added on to a life already littered with a ton of stressful issues. Still powerful, but differently so. This one really seems to hammer home the need to focus on mental health.

alibi313's review

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dark emotional sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

melismatic's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

mnboyer's review

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reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Insomnia, motherhood, trying to save the planet in an eco-war humans are fighting and losing, and absolutely losing your mind are all contained within this short story. There's a lot packed in here but it was a great read! Especially interested in the insomnia moments where this woman starts fretting over her daughter's future.

liketheday's review against another edition

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3.0

Clearly I just like it when Lauren Groff writes about Florida. This is a neat little creepy story and pretty decent on audio. I may check it out again in print to see if I missed anything.

mrz_owenz's review against another edition

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3.0

So this is the second "Warmer" story I've listened to. The narrator of this one is quite good but the story is still depressing.

gassyhaggis's review

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dark reflective sad slow-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

2.0

cath_t's review

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dark mysterious sad slow-paced

2.75

andtheitoldyousos's review against another edition

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4.0

No one can get into an unraveling mind quite like Lauren Groff. Fates and Furies and The Monsters of Templeton are two of my favorite pieces of contemporary literature, and “Boca Raton” crams everything that I love about those two pieces into a tiny but devastating package. A woman in a small Florida Cottage attempts to come to terms with climate change, hurricanes, religious fanatics, motherhood, loss, history, and insomnia while working on a research project for a museum of history at a small college. Her journey is depressing, enlightening, thrilling, and hysterical. Sometimes it feels good to feel bad! There has been so much talk of the “Cool Girl” and her many tropes, but Lauren Groff is not interested in “cool”. Cool in intense situations, yes. Cool when faced with absolute tragedy, yes. Cool within her own feelings and actions- a cool that is detached, other, and alien. Lauren Groff’s “cool” is something that you admire from a distance but regard with fear in your heart.