Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Fiona and Jane

I loved this book. The structure is unusual: a collection of short stories rather than a novel, about the 2 friends and the twists and turns their lives take, together and apart, alternating their points of view. It's full of pain and regret, but also funny at times and easy to read. A fascinating, wry and poignant view of relationships: romantic, sexual, family, friendships.

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robinks's review

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emotional hopeful 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

4.5

I really enjoyed reading through these little blips of Fiona & Jane’s lives, the ebbs and flows of their friendship over many years. I didn’t like that some of the stories seemed to be out of chronological order. Also, I sometimes could not understand Jane’s actions.

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lily1304's review

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hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

Sweet slice-of-life stories, and I love the structure, of jumping through time with two best friends. Sad but ultimately hopeful.

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

3.75

Fiona and Jane - Fiona and Jane, both Taiwanese American, met in second grade. This short story collection follows them for more than two decades. I liked the way it showed the ebb and flow of friendship and it’s exploration of sexual identity. The format was one story from Jane’s perspective then one from Fiona’s but I often struggled to tell them apart. An enjoyable read but not one that will stick with me.

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