Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5⭐️
I really enjoyed the writing style of this story. I felt like I was Ava’s friend listening to her tell me her life. As insufferable as she was I think there was a lot about her that could be relatable. It felt as though all of her actions came from a place of insecurity. I do wish she faced more consequences for her actions and I didn’t love the ending very much but I felt like this was a great character study.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this story. I felt like I was Ava’s friend listening to her tell me her life. As insufferable as she was I think there was a lot about her that could be relatable. It felt as though all of her actions came from a place of insecurity. I do wish she faced more consequences for her actions and I didn’t love the ending very much but I felt like this was a great character study.
Hemingway but make it bisexual, more horny, and, dare I say, more exciting
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Perceptive, intelligent and razor-sharp. I tore through this. Really enjoyed the backdrop of hong kong and the linguistic observations throughout.
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
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
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
An interesting read - not my personal taste but I enjoyed elements of it. That being said, I can't see myself reading it again or recommending it to others. The main drawback is definitely the main character being frustratingly unsure of herself and toxic in most of her relationships. We don't sympathise much with her as a result and I found myself annoyed by her treatment of both Julian and Edith. The witty, relatable Irish-isms and the style of the narrative voice kept me reading but ultimately, not my cup of tea.
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
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Naoise Dolan did something I thought was impossible — she managed to scratch my Sally Rooney itch. I truly love Sally's stories. I'm 25, and your twenties are such a wild, chaotic time for character-building. Books have become a way for me to explore those changes in myself. It's honestly a bit terrible how much I resonate with flawed white women, and I know that comes from a place of privilege. These books are both incredible and problematic for how they shape my understanding of self.
Exciting Times is set in Hong Kong — a chaotic, expat-filled city that I have zero personal experience with, but reading this book made me feel the heat, the noise, and the overwhelming density of it all. The story follows a young woman working as a barely-paid teacher and her complicated relationships with a man and a woman — both of whom earn significantly more than she does.
The novel explores privilege through the lenses of money, race, and social class, all seen from the perspective of a pretty, self-aware white woman living abroad. It’s sharp, clever, and the characters aren’t exactly lovable — they’re messy, often wrong, and full of contradictions, which I loved.
I sincerely recommend this book. It’s not a full 5 stars for me because the prose isn’t quite as polished as it could be — but it’s close. Solid 4.25.
Exciting Times is set in Hong Kong — a chaotic, expat-filled city that I have zero personal experience with, but reading this book made me feel the heat, the noise, and the overwhelming density of it all. The story follows a young woman working as a barely-paid teacher and her complicated relationships with a man and a woman — both of whom earn significantly more than she does.
The novel explores privilege through the lenses of money, race, and social class, all seen from the perspective of a pretty, self-aware white woman living abroad. It’s sharp, clever, and the characters aren’t exactly lovable — they’re messy, often wrong, and full of contradictions, which I loved.
I sincerely recommend this book. It’s not a full 5 stars for me because the prose isn’t quite as polished as it could be — but it’s close. Solid 4.25.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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