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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
One star? Well let’s see, for starters, the two main characters were flat af and started the book as dull people and ended the book as the same dull people whose characters only extend as far as their stereotypes.
Like how in the fresh hell did they even end up together? When she introduced him to her interests, he didn’t feel comfortable, when he brought her to do things he liked, she didn’t feel comfortable. So why the hell did they date?! Meanwhile she has her best friend Al over here on the sidelines that expresses interest in the same stuff as her, yet she still manages to get with the guy she has zero mutual interests with?
Now that’s just stupid af.
And don’t get me started on the whole “different” thing. Smh.
Like how in the fresh hell did they even end up together? When she introduced him to her interests, he didn’t feel comfortable, when he brought her to do things he liked, she didn’t feel comfortable. So why the hell did they date?! Meanwhile she has her best friend Al over here on the sidelines that expresses interest in the same stuff as her, yet she still manages to get with the guy she has zero mutual interests with?
Now that’s just stupid af.
And don’t get me started on the whole “different” thing. Smh.
I just don't know about this book. I did not Min and felt she should have been with Al all along. Book felt like was trying too hard to be quirky and this just did work for me. But there are plenty of teens at my library will appreciate this one.
I flipped between 3 and 4 stars, because the stream of consciousness narration really did annoy me most of the time. But in the end, the whole story won me over.
I was ready to ditch this book. 100 pages in, I was ready to ditch. The style was too wearing, too droning, too much writer's schtick and ego and cutesiness and nod-nod-wink-wink and exorbitant fake movie references gone on too long. If I couldn't stand such style after 100 pages I certainly wasn't going to last 355. But then I stayed, Book. I stayed because I wanted to know, to find out. And once I stayed, I couldn't stop. I picked it up this morning some 100 pages in, intending to drop it but then I stayed up too late and too long and I finished.
I finished, Book. I read you all because you pulled me in. You finally had me and you had me all the way to the end. And that's why, Book, that's why we didn't break up.
I finished, Book. I read you all because you pulled me in. You finally had me and you had me all the way to the end. And that's why, Book, that's why we didn't break up.
It took me a while to get into the writing style but it ended up being really enjoyable and I want to punch Ed in the face.
I wanted to love this book. I didn’t even like it. None of the characters were likeable, lots of sentences made no sense and I just didn’t care why they broke up.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Stalking
I love Daniel Handler's work and grew up reading Series of Unfortunate Events, so I was extra bummed out when this book didn't impress me very much. It was just a typical story about a typical boy who treats a quirky girl like crap and basically my face was just ":l" or worse the whole time I read it. It's not that the writing itself is bad - although there were certain scenes where I questioned what the hell was going on and still am not sure why certain parts were important - it's simply a boring storyline and not worth it. The first scene itself takes up around 70+ pages I'm pretty sure, and throughout the book there's about 100 negative mentions of "gay" and probably about 10 "fags." Like, enough is enough, Handler. Also, the book is so damn heavy. You're gonna grow muscles lifting this thing.
I dunno, I just kept questioning why this relationship meant so much to Min in the first place and it's not like I don't have any past relationships that can't compare, it's just... I never felt very emotionally attached to the characters, and breakups are nothing if not emotional. If you're going to write a break up story, I feel like I should miss the breakup-er as much as the breakup-ee does, which she does; she's described as being "La Desperado" at the end, and like... I just didn't care about any of them.
I dunno, I just kept questioning why this relationship meant so much to Min in the first place and it's not like I don't have any past relationships that can't compare, it's just... I never felt very emotionally attached to the characters, and breakups are nothing if not emotional. If you're going to write a break up story, I feel like I should miss the breakup-er as much as the breakup-ee does, which she does; she's described as being "La Desperado" at the end, and like... I just didn't care about any of them.
As many other reviewers have said, I didn't want to like this book. 400 pages of teenage romance sounded pretty unbearable, but here I am at the end of those 400 pages, rating it 4(.5) stars. Before reading, I was told to sit down and give this book my full attention, and I completely understand now why that was key to enjoying it. This is just one of those stories you really have to "feel" to enjoy. By the end, I had gotten over Min's annoying foreign film obsession and really felt for the girl. Beautiful illustrations, unfortunately relatable story. I loved it.
Side note: I'm just realizing this was written by a male author. Applause to him for creating a completely believable teenage girl.
Side note: I'm just realizing this was written by a male author. Applause to him for creating a completely believable teenage girl.