Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Small Pleasures

I'm worried I'm too emotionally invested at the moment to be writing this review; I don't know how to write about how this book made me feel without writing about the ending. I'll spoiler warning it at the end here, but just know that all spoilers in it are very vague.

Overall I liked this book. I knew absolutely nothing about it going in--not the premise, not the genre, nothing. I picked it solely based on the cover. Throughout the first half of it I just felt a sort of rising tension, as I waited for the shoe to drop. This book was well-written and while the ending devastated me, I don't think it should have been changed.

This book makes me want to read more by this author, because I really liked how well it showed tiny social things that feel hard to capture/explain but can make a real impact on how a situation feels or a relationship progresses. Small things that Jean worries over momentarily, that just felt really well-done.

Honestly the ending just is so sad. I wasn't prepared. I wish I'd paid more attention to the dates so that I could have seen it coming. It makes sense as a story but I'm just too close to these characters right now, I feel too sad for them. It made it so I couldn't give this book five stars.

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teaselkie's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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esw's review

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emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This is a lovely read for anyone in S.E London. Being familiar with the areas the characters visit really adds another layer to the enjoyment. It was the first I've felt so in tune with the characters in a book just on locality.

As for the plot, it's okay. Predictable in areas, but it shines best on Chamber's depiction of the titular Small Pleasures. While the characters may not be incredibly complex in areas, it makes up for it by them being genuinely sweet. It's a novel dealing in the sweetness of intimacy and learning to love.

Now for the ending.

The ending can make or break the book, and frankly it broke it for me in a 4 hour binge. It's both predictable and sudden and overall really unsatisfying when so many expectations have been built. In short, Jean can't catch a W. I feel the ending might have been stronger if it ended happier, even if the events of the ending still happened or were slightly altered. In addition, the truth of Gretchen's pregnancy felt easy to predict. I don't exactly know how it could have been done without feeling so obvious, but it was expected and didn't throw me through many loops. I did enjoy the reveal of Gretchen being a lesbian.

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christinereichard's review

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lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A message I can always greet with open arms: Find the small pleasures in life, and recognize that little joys are often just as rewarding as big joys. Slow-paced, but the mystery of the virgin birth was a great draw.

I know a lot of people hated the ending, but I think it only drives the message home.

Yes, the ending with Howard was shocking and sudden. But my takeaway was that the spontaneity of life is everpresent and we should enjoy what we have while we can.

I would've restructured it though. I wouldn't have mentioned the train crash at the beginning of the book, and instead placed it right after the final chapter. That way, the "enjoy what you have while you can" message would still be there (sorry), but the date would be re-emphasized to show readers that Jean's article was pushed off the paper's front page. Double whammy.

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hollieadaw's review

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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kirstyplumb's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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