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luvbug7554's review against another edition
2.0
well, it's a novel. about what, I don't know. I did manage to not like any of the characters, some were not likeable, some under developed. sex and abortion are discussed more to add flare than content. it's a 2 star book because I was able to finish it.
bennse2's review against another edition
3.0
Solid - well-paced, well-written. Very identifiable as a story about 30-somethings transitioning to adulthood now. I will warn: this isn't a light-hearted book, but it's still good!
"We're still relatively young, you know? I'm sure all kinds of unimaginable things, you know?" (56)
"I keep meeting humans who seem to just love themselves." (77)
"All these people" - Amy gestured at the couples walking by them at the outdoor flea market, eating grilled corncobs and tacos, grinning at each other in Ray-Bans - "are obviously going to break up once their sexual chemistry peters out. But we'll be together forever." (94)
Amy's impression of God was more or less that God was a reasonable guy/gal, a very wise yoga instructor type, who knew that you had done and thought some heinous stuff but didn't take it personally. (164-165)
"Whatever it is that you don't want to tell me but are also kind of dying to tell me, just do it now, even if it's horrible, please." Amy half suppressed a shocked laugh. How pleasant it was to be so known. (183)
"We're still relatively young, you know? I'm sure all kinds of unimaginable things, you know?" (56)
"I keep meeting humans who seem to just love themselves." (77)
"All these people" - Amy gestured at the couples walking by them at the outdoor flea market, eating grilled corncobs and tacos, grinning at each other in Ray-Bans - "are obviously going to break up once their sexual chemistry peters out. But we'll be together forever." (94)
Amy's impression of God was more or less that God was a reasonable guy/gal, a very wise yoga instructor type, who knew that you had done and thought some heinous stuff but didn't take it personally. (164-165)
"Whatever it is that you don't want to tell me but are also kind of dying to tell me, just do it now, even if it's horrible, please." Amy half suppressed a shocked laugh. How pleasant it was to be so known. (183)
kate_elizabeth's review against another edition
2.0
I was thinking about this book on my run this morning and I got all newly annoyed about it so I'm coming back to edit my original review. Dammit, Gould.
This book was recommended by a couple of magazines and has a fairly decent review on goodreads (which I should learn not to trust, really) (eh ok it doesn't really even have that, on second glance). I cannot imagine why. Even if chick-lit is your thing - it's sometimes my thing; I have a weak spot for Jennifer Weiner and really who doesn't want a fluff book now and then - I can't imagine what you'd see in this book. It's just BAD. The plot is barely there, but more importantly than that, the characters are awful.
Amy is a shitty person. She's selfish and self-absorbed. Her boyfriend, Sam, is a douche. Her best friend gets pregnant from a one-night stand - the guy, Steve, is a douche - and decides to have the baby because it'll be a nice catalyst for her to change her life. A NICE CATALYST. Prior to deciding to have the baby, Amy and Bev try to sell the baby to a couple upstate. Jason, the husband, is a douche. Sally, the wife, is also kind of a self-absorbed asshole. Bev and Amy's friendship, the book's central relationship, undergoes some strife during Bev's pregnancy, mostly because they're both busy being assholes. And then it ends. With some text-message hearts. That is not a euphemism.
Best part of the book: Amy's cat. His name is Waffles. She ignores him while she looks at pictures of cats on tumblr.
I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because I didn't hate reading it at the time. I thought it would get better, get more interesting, wrap up in some way that was likeable or entertaining. I also read it on the porch in perfect Southern-fall weather while drinking a lime-flavored La Croix. That was nice.
Don't read this.
This book was recommended by a couple of magazines and has a fairly decent review on goodreads (which I should learn not to trust, really) (eh ok it doesn't really even have that, on second glance). I cannot imagine why. Even if chick-lit is your thing - it's sometimes my thing; I have a weak spot for Jennifer Weiner and really who doesn't want a fluff book now and then - I can't imagine what you'd see in this book. It's just BAD. The plot is barely there, but more importantly than that, the characters are awful.
Amy is a shitty person. She's selfish and self-absorbed. Her boyfriend, Sam, is a douche. Her best friend gets pregnant from a one-night stand - the guy, Steve, is a douche - and decides to have the baby because it'll be a nice catalyst for her to change her life. A NICE CATALYST. Prior to deciding to have the baby, Amy and Bev try to sell the baby to a couple upstate. Jason, the husband, is a douche. Sally, the wife, is also kind of a self-absorbed asshole. Bev and Amy's friendship, the book's central relationship, undergoes some strife during Bev's pregnancy, mostly because they're both busy being assholes. And then it ends. With some text-message hearts. That is not a euphemism.
Best part of the book: Amy's cat. His name is Waffles. She ignores him while she looks at pictures of cats on tumblr.
I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because I didn't hate reading it at the time. I thought it would get better, get more interesting, wrap up in some way that was likeable or entertaining. I also read it on the porch in perfect Southern-fall weather while drinking a lime-flavored La Croix. That was nice.
Don't read this.
applescc's review against another edition
1.0
This is the story of a couple of thirty-something's who live in Brooklyn and make terrible life choices. Kind of like that show Girls. And like the show, it's annoying. Bleh.
m_fhowe's review against another edition
3.0
Nothing special here, just fun of the mill chick lit. Fine for a light beach read but not worth much more than that!
scsreads's review against another edition
4.0
About- Two best friends living in New York City and just trying to get by.
Why I picked it– This book was getting some good buzz, so I snagged a copy from work.
Thoughts- I ended the month on another great book. This is the second book on this list that mimics real life for me- set in New York City, poor twenty-somethings, and working in publishing. Check, check, check. This book examines a friendship between two women, with its ups and downs. I could definitely see some of myself in the main characters, which was a fun experience for me, but also a bit disconcerting. I thought this was funny and realistic and sad and touching. Her characters aren’t perfect, which is what makes them so human. This book reminded me of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. and of GIRLS, so if you like either of those things, you might like this too.
Why I picked it– This book was getting some good buzz, so I snagged a copy from work.
Thoughts- I ended the month on another great book. This is the second book on this list that mimics real life for me- set in New York City, poor twenty-somethings, and working in publishing. Check, check, check. This book examines a friendship between two women, with its ups and downs. I could definitely see some of myself in the main characters, which was a fun experience for me, but also a bit disconcerting. I thought this was funny and realistic and sad and touching. Her characters aren’t perfect, which is what makes them so human. This book reminded me of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. and of GIRLS, so if you like either of those things, you might like this too.
nicoletort's review against another edition
3.0
More of a 3.5 - I really enjoyed this audiobook despite the narrator's grating drawn-out breathy ending to every sentence. Amy & Bev could be any upper middle class girls trying to make it in a city, and I appreciated the honesty about their poor decision-making and selfishness. The book rung true for me, and was more relatable than "Girls," to which I'm sure there have been plenty of comparisons.
brianajae's review against another edition
4.0
Quick easy read. Nothing special but it kept me interested
acdom's review against another edition
3.0
Eh. The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it was just meh. Also, the ending? No.
Maybe because I'm in my early 30s and I have my shit together, but I found it really hard to empathize with either of the main characters, as they were both pretty ridiculous people who made shitty choices. Sally seemed the most sane, but she was also a piece of work.
Maybe because I'm in my early 30s and I have my shit together, but I found it really hard to empathize with either of the main characters, as they were both pretty ridiculous people who made shitty choices. Sally seemed the most sane, but she was also a piece of work.
xendlesslyreadingx's review against another edition
3.0
I'll admit, it took me a lot longer to finish this book than it should have at only 250 pages. I just could not get into it in the beginning. While I eventually came to enjoy the story, I could not bring myself to like the characters very much. Bev was alright and she grew on me a bit. I could deal with Sally. But Amy? There were so many times that I wanted to slap her in the face. She was so annoying and she thought she was so amazing when there was really nothing special about her. To me, she wasn't even remotely likable until the last ten pages, and even then "likable" is a stretch. I dreaded the chapters that focused on her and wished for more Bev chapters. At least Bev was doing something with her life.
I usually try not to talk negatively about books, especially online, but it really was not the book. It was just Amy. Bev's storyline was intriguing and I would have enjoyed the book much more if it focused completely on her with Amy just being her best friend and a side character.
My lack of love for this book has absolutely nothing to do with Emily Gould's writing, which I found to be honest and straight-forward. I would definitely read more from her as I truly enjoyed her writing style.
I usually try not to talk negatively about books, especially online, but it really was not the book. It was just Amy. Bev's storyline was intriguing and I would have enjoyed the book much more if it focused completely on her with Amy just being her best friend and a side character.
My lack of love for this book has absolutely nothing to do with Emily Gould's writing, which I found to be honest and straight-forward. I would definitely read more from her as I truly enjoyed her writing style.