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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Frizell loves a visceral description. There's a lot of body and bodily fluid imagery in this book, it's a thread and I get the feeling it's what adds a small edge to this book but I'm not sure it flowed for me. That being said, It's a quick and satisfying read with enough true poignancy to hold you and a lovely ending.
medium-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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Square One is a 4 star for me, purely because it took me at least 100 pages to get into the story and find the main character loveable.
Throughout the book, I couldn’t help feeling like Nell Frizzell had witnessed some of my own experiences and had secret access to my thoughts.
I’ve been exactly where Hanna, the main character get is, just this last year. In fact, I’m still in it now. Trying to find my own space in the world despite everything going wrong. Feeling left behind, single, failed relationships with shit men, and unsure of where to live.
I dog-ear marked several pages, especially when Hanna is describing her experiences with her ex.
I have giggled and cried at this book, and felt something like hope and love while reading.
Throughout the book, I couldn’t help feeling like Nell Frizzell had witnessed some of my own experiences and had secret access to my thoughts.
I’ve been exactly where Hanna, the main character get is, just this last year. In fact, I’m still in it now. Trying to find my own space in the world despite everything going wrong. Feeling left behind, single, failed relationships with shit men, and unsure of where to live.
I dog-ear marked several pages, especially when Hanna is describing her experiences with her ex.
I have giggled and cried at this book, and felt something like hope and love while reading.
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After loving Nell Frizzell’s nonfiction book The Panic Years, I had to give her debut novel a go. In Square One we meet Hanna who has left her long term partner and moved back to her hometown to live with her dad. Although it had an appealing premise, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
I know personal growth is a slow process, although Hanna continued time and again to wallow in self pity for her situation without being able to communicate properly with those around her. The only redemption was in the final 30 pages or so.
I also found the writing to be somewhat inconsistent with plot lines. On her first day of work every detail is in hyper focus, down to the items on her desk. After her first day, we hear almost nothing about her job until a brief mention a few months down the track. Does she still hate the job? Has she found a rhythm? I will never know.
I still enjoyed and related to parts of this book which meant I didn't dnf. I particularly liked Mary and her on-point observations about the difference in acceptable behaviours between men and women.
"We need to teach our children - however old they are - that loving people is not a sacrifice but a freedom in itself...we aren't goldfinches flying through life alone, trying not to get caught or tied down."
I really enjoyed this book, having just entered my 30s I really related to some of the feelings Hanna had about having it all sorted. An enjoyable, fun read. I look forward to reading more of Nell’s fiction in the future.
There's a lot of people who think that you should reach certain goals by 30/40/etc. Unfortunately life happen and some things are not meant to be.
I like the story of Hanna and how she evolved becoming a more mature persone.
I liked the style of writing and the characters, the author is a good storyteller and delivers a well plotted story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I like the story of Hanna and how she evolved becoming a more mature persone.
I liked the style of writing and the characters, the author is a good storyteller and delivers a well plotted story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Who has their life sorted out? No one. Hanna has just broken up with her long-term boyfriend and has moved in with her dad. She’s lost and unhappy and can’t help feel that her life is not on track. Hanna tries to navigate this new chapter in her life but a new hurdle always seems to be popping up.
I didn’t fall in love with this book. I found that I didn’t connect with Hanna, not that she is unlikeable but there was a missing warmth from her character. Hanna seemed to constantly complain about things and this was draining as the book went on. Instead of sitting down and thinking of solutions for her problems or going to someone for help Hanna seemed to go around in circles. Maybe I had too many expectations for the direction this book would take. This didn’t take the route of a rom-com or an inspiring journey of picking your life up.
There are some aspects of the book that I loved. I adored the relationship that Hanna has with her dad. Her father is hilarious in the book and so vividly described that I could imagine meeting him on the street. He is a little eccentric with a wry sense of humour, and his habits can leave a lot to be desired. Along with this, some of the conversations that Hanna has with characters are truly inspiring, in particular her chat with Mary about life expectations and motherhood.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
I didn’t fall in love with this book. I found that I didn’t connect with Hanna, not that she is unlikeable but there was a missing warmth from her character. Hanna seemed to constantly complain about things and this was draining as the book went on. Instead of sitting down and thinking of solutions for her problems or going to someone for help Hanna seemed to go around in circles. Maybe I had too many expectations for the direction this book would take. This didn’t take the route of a rom-com or an inspiring journey of picking your life up.
There are some aspects of the book that I loved. I adored the relationship that Hanna has with her dad. Her father is hilarious in the book and so vividly described that I could imagine meeting him on the street. He is a little eccentric with a wry sense of humour, and his habits can leave a lot to be desired. Along with this, some of the conversations that Hanna has with characters are truly inspiring, in particular her chat with Mary about life expectations and motherhood.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Brilliant fiction debut. It was a quick and fun read with very well written and relatable characters. highly recommend 4/5
Hanna has recently broken up with her long term boyfriend Joe. She has to move out of their rented flat in London and return home to Oxford to live with her dad (not an ideal situation for either of them now Iain has discovered the joys of Tinder). As Hanna struggles to adjust to going backwards in her life she is forced to work out what it is she really wants from life...
This debut novel was an absolute delight to read and I devoured it over the course of a few days. I really connected with the character of Hanna who is only a few years younger than me, so her struggles with work/career, all your friends getting married and having babies whilst also navigating getting on the housing ladder resonated.
I have reached my fill with seemingly every book about a young woman in her twenties being set in London
This debut novel was an absolute delight to read and I devoured it over the course of a few days. I really connected with the character of Hanna who is only a few years younger than me, so her struggles with work/career, all your friends getting married and having babies whilst also navigating getting on the housing ladder resonated.
I have reached my fill with seemingly every book about a young woman in her twenties being set in London