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mhelmick28's review
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
characters unlikeable in a way that put me off at times, wanted this to be so much more than it was
Read the content warnings - some things weren’t necessary graphic but they were sudden/dropped in what felt like a careless way at times and the characters’ apathy towards these things really threw me off
Jane’s dad’s death really felt like it came out of nowhere and then the emotionally impacts of that weren’t fully addressed until the last few pages of the book. I really wanted Jane’s journey with her sexuality to feel more interconnected with her dad’s but it felt seemingly random to me that they were both queer
Read the content warnings - some things weren’t necessary graphic but they were sudden/dropped in what felt like a careless way at times and the characters’ apathy towards these things really threw me off
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Racial slurs, and Suicide
sholcomb's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.25
I loved the characters in this book, and the writing style had me captivated, but unfortunately it was just too rushed. The timeline was confusing sometimes and I couldn’t tell what had happened to get us to the point we were at, not enough was explained. Also sometimes there was too much focus on things that were never brought up again, rather than the actual friendship of Jane and Fiona. I would’ve loved if there was more time with them together, dealing with things, and more about their friendship as a whole, as well as more explanations of certain plot points.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Death, Violence, Outing, Drug use, and Death of parent
burnt_milk's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoy literary fiction but find it kinda difficult to talk about. Some parts of this really hit, but as is often the case with these kind of stories I wish subjects were given more depth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Outing, and Racism
Minor: Abortion, Sexual assault, and Vomit
collie98's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault, War, Racism, Physical abuse, Abortion, Addiction, Terminal illness, Self harm, and Grief
maregred's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Outing
Moderate: Death of parent, Cancer, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, War, Vomit, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Drug use, Cursing, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
murdalannd's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
kathleencoughlin's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
For a book called Fiona and Jane, these characters almost never interacted. I thought certain elements of the book had a lot of potential, but the author really narrowed in on parts that seemed more mundane. For example, I'd have like to know more about how Fiona and Jane reunited in LA or more about Jane's relationship with her mom or how Fiona turned her romantic life around to go from divorcée to wife and mother. Instead, we hopped around their a stories in a way that felt rather disjointed. Maybe it was because several sections were previously published as short stories, but it just felt like half a story, like there was a chunk missing out of the middle. I also felt like Fiona and Jane's characterization was a bit inconsistant. Jane seemed more reserved but was also apparently the bad influence who convinced Fiona to steal several thousand dollars from a church? I guess, I was just disappointed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Racism, Child death, Vomit, Alcohol, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
For a book called Fiona and Jane, these characters almost never interacted. I thought certain elements of the book had a lot of potential, but the author really narrowed in on parts that seemed more mundane. For example, I'd have like to know more about how Fiona and Jane reunited in LA or more about Jane's relationship with her mom or how Fiona turned her romantic life around to go from divorcée to wife and mother. Instead, we hopped around their a stories in a way that felt rather disjointed. Maybe it was because several sections were previously published as short stories, but it just felt like half a story, like there was a chunk missing out of the middle. I also felt like Fiona and Jane's characterization was a bit inconsistant. Jane seemed more reserved but was also apparently the bad influence who convinced Fiona to steal several thousand dollars from a church? I guess, I was just disappointedleighannebfd3b's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
mcz_reads's review
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
I enjoyed Fiona and Jane enough that I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed the titular characters and the reflective nature of the stories. However, I don't think the marketing for this book fits the final product. It didn't feel like a full collection of short stories, and Fiona and Jane's relationship didn't feel like the main focus.
There are creative choices in this book that feel baffling; not bad, but not serving any noticeable purpose. Jane's stories are narrated in first person, and Fiona's in third. I thought this would become significant by the end of the book. I anticipated something like The Last Five Years where their perspectives would switch at some point, or that they'd become they same once the characters reunited. The one short story told from both of their perspectives is told in third person... but it's the penultimate story, and the the last chapter is told first person. This could represent how they grow apart again later in life, but the impact of the stylistic choice is minimal. The only obvious effect is that is makes the narrators easier to tell apart.
Although this is billed as a collection of short stories, not all of them feel like they can stand alone. Some of the stories don't feel like they'd be as meaningful if not for the context of the book. I also would have liked to see more stories about the characters in their youth so their bond as separated adults would feel more significant. I feel like the relationships shown between them and other friends and lovers were more powerful.
This book does nail a very millennial emotion of not-quite-nostalgia: an unshakeable longing for a past that no longer exists or wasn't suited for us in the first place along with a permanent feeling of being lost or catching up as adults. This emotion permeates the entire book and was what kept me reading. The gaps in time and the changing subjects between each story add to this disjointed feeling. I appreciated the complexity of Fiona and Jane, and how they viewed themselves and others.
There are creative choices in this book that feel baffling; not bad, but not serving any noticeable purpose. Jane's stories are narrated in first person, and Fiona's in third. I thought this would become significant by the end of the book. I anticipated something like The Last Five Years where their perspectives would switch at some point, or that they'd become they same once the characters reunited. The one short story told from both of their perspectives is told in third person... but it's the penultimate story, and the the last chapter is told first person. This could represent how they grow apart again later in life, but the impact of the stylistic choice is minimal. The only obvious effect is that is makes the narrators easier to tell apart.
Although this is billed as a collection of short stories, not all of them feel like they can stand alone. Some of the stories don't feel like they'd be as meaningful if not for the context of the book. I also would have liked to see more stories about the characters in their youth so their bond as separated adults would feel more significant. I feel like the relationships shown between them and other friends and lovers were more powerful.
This book does nail a very millennial emotion of not-quite-nostalgia: an unshakeable longing for a past that no longer exists or wasn't suited for us in the first place along with a permanent feeling of being lost or catching up as adults. This emotion permeates the entire book and was what kept me reading. The gaps in time and the changing subjects between each story add to this disjointed feeling. I appreciated the complexity of Fiona and Jane, and how they viewed themselves and others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault
eve_lyn's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, Drug use, Alcohol, and Sexual assault