Reviews

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan

issyaarmstrong's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

barbaramariaa's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

rubesreading's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lexsven's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective fast-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

5.0

I first heard of this book in 2020 from an uncarley video on youtube which I think has now been privated by the creator. I have listened to this before and it was actually the first book I checked out on Libby.

I loved this book in 2020 and I love it now. I think in 2020 I really identified with the character Ava and her aimlessness and kind of mindless wandering trough life taking whatever fell into her lap and trying to keep all of it even if she realistically cannot. Like how she tries to keep both Julian and Edith. She is kind of generally unlikable character but I felt all my negative part represented in her and they didn't look as ugly as I thought. They obviously don't look great, but they did not cause the end of the world. She also has harsh thoughts about the world that I am sometimes scared to let myself feel but does so with ease and is still happy existing.

I think there is a certain nostalgia in listening to this book again too. I listened to it at work and so probably missed some parts, but the general essence was still there for me. It took me back to my lockdown walks, one of the few parts I enjoyed, feeling the sun on my face, smelling the fresh air, and listening to a book. This book got me back into reading during a not fun time and so created an escape route for me. My perspective is marred but I stand by my five star rating.

Also this was narrated by Aoife McMahon so obviously I loved it.

laurencatherine44's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

annie_lu's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The main character was so frustratingly real.

hannahandrea's review against another edition

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sally rooney-esque, but boring

tilsestelle's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective 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

jrow's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective slow-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

It feels like there is almost nothing going on in the story, but it was funny at times and some parts were cleverly worded. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

camerongib's review against another edition

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3.0

found in my notes app:

I don’t know why, perhaps because he was awful immediately, but I truly believed that Julian was going to be a temporary fling and that this book would contain many of those and then the chapters went on and Julian became more and more solid

like sally rooney with bigger words
*insert example*
i don’t want to say this because lord knows every bla bla bla author is going to be compared to her but like…

the romance of it is a bit lacklustre. she starts saying [SPOILER] she’s so in love with edith but i never feel that. i never see that. there’s a disconnect. i’ll take her word for it but… where?