aleenabeth's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
leslieto13's review against another edition
1.0
This feels like an incomplete novel idea, so it was written as a series of short stories. I found it hard to care for either main character and the side characters were just background noise. There was no natural progression and the lack of linearity made it difficult to understand wtf was going on.
elaboratelyemily's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is an interesting character study and take on female friendship. I found it very comforting to read about them growing up together, and I loved all the characters in this book. At the same time, I wasn't super invested in this book. It's a quick, light read, and I loved it at times, but sometimes it fell short for me. The writing was pretty average for me, and while I loved Fiona and Jane as characters, I wasn't particularly invested in the outcome. But it was a fun read, and I think it's a good, accessible book for readers to get out of a slump.
kakovac's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this view into the coming of age of two Taiwanese women. I'd say the author is reminiscent of Sally Rooney for me, but with more warmth. Took off one star because I found the time jumping and switch in narrator confusing at times, especially when there was a jump to a boyfriend or partner for a few pages and then we never went back to them. But the story and characters rise over that.
maraslanka's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
No plot, just vibes.
kittykornerlibrarian's review
1.0
I tend not to enjoy books that seem like they could be divided into chapters or short stories, figure it out yourself. One or the other, please. And I'm sure there are people who like reading about teens getting wasted drunk and making bad choices, but I'm not one of them. The writing was good and I still have to recognize this one wasn't for me.
kylakavanagh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marciag's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
stephiemarie's review
3.0
I devoured this book within a few hours. While it does have its flaws, Jean Chen Ho is a promising author and I look forward to her future works. The story and the characters pulled me in almost instantly. I fell head over heels in love with both women and was invested in their stories and lives. Ho's writing was easy to fly through, and the imagery she uses made me feel as if I was in the moment with the characters, making me forget I was even reading a book. This book has a cozy, curl up in your favorite chair next to a window on a grey rainy day kind of read. My only issues with the story were that occasionally when jumping from story to story, it was like other readers have said, a bit confusing as to when the events were taking place, and every once in a while it took me a moment to figure out which POV I was reading. Besides those minute complaints though, I overall enjoyed this story. It was the new, refreshing read that I needed to kick off a new year of reads.