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gracesullentrup's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Blood, Transphobia, and Bullying
Minor: Gaslighting
lilgriff's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Transphobia, Blood, Biphobia, and Domestic abuse
angievansprang's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
What a beautiful book. An absolute ode to SA survivors and bisexuals, especially those of us who truly found ourselves in college. The writing in this was absolutely stunning. I’ve never read a book that so aptly describes the emotions entangled in female friendship in your 20s. Loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Transphobia, Alcohol, Rape, and Bullying
Minor: Vomit, Biphobia, and Sexual content
getlitwithamy_'s review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
4.5
After reading the “big bisexual novel,” these are my thoughts:
OLD ENOUGH is a very thought-provoking debut about self-discovery and the journey one takes when dealing with, and accepting, trauma. The book mainly follows the trauma of sexual assault, so take this trigger warning into consideration and read with care.
I really liked the layout of Sav’s recovery process in dissecting what happened to her when she was sixteen. Haley Jakobson does a great job writing Sav’s internal monologue when she experiences flashbacks that make her anxious in the present day. The timeline switches were also very well placed so readers were able to understand why parts of the past are integrated into the present-day chapters.
The book was also very funny. While it did come off as cringy at times, it also made it relatable whenever Sav’s internal - and sometimes external - commentary during gay panic situations were pretty comical. This goes for other characters too, not just Sav. I loved Candace and Vera so much, and Wesley was also a delight whenever they were in a chapter.
I think the main turnoff was the first chapter or two. It seemed like there was more showing than telling, and since the first chapters of a book are the most important, it turned me off a little bit because I wasn’t sure if it was going to set the tone for the rest of the book.
Overall, OLD ENOUGH was a great debut, and I can tell that Jakobson’s writing and storytelling has nowhere to go but up.
OLD ENOUGH is a very thought-provoking debut about self-discovery and the journey one takes when dealing with, and accepting, trauma. The book mainly follows the trauma of sexual assault, so take this trigger warning into consideration and read with care.
I really liked the layout of Sav’s recovery process in dissecting what happened to her when she was sixteen. Haley Jakobson does a great job writing Sav’s internal monologue when she experiences flashbacks that make her anxious in the present day. The timeline switches were also very well placed so readers were able to understand why parts of the past are integrated into the present-day chapters.
The book was also very funny. While it did come off as cringy at times, it also made it relatable whenever Sav’s internal - and sometimes external - commentary during gay panic situations were pretty comical. This goes for other characters too, not just Sav. I loved Candace and Vera so much, and Wesley was also a delight whenever they were in a chapter.
I think the main turnoff was the first chapter or two. It seemed like there was more showing than telling, and since the first chapters of a book are the most important, it turned me off a little bit because I wasn’t sure if it was going to set the tone for the rest of the book.
Overall, OLD ENOUGH was a great debut, and I can tell that Jakobson’s writing and storytelling has nowhere to go but up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Bullying
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
leefox's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Biphobia, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Drug use
aweso10's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
i'm not usually one to give five stars willy nilly... but this book just really struck a chord with me. sure, the relatability aspect is a huge reason why i connected with jakobson's writing so deeply, but the storyline just kept me locked in so many different ways, and i was obsessed with the characters and the nuance and i was rooting for them the whole time. it's nice too because all of the characters weren't perfect- they were fully formed people, and their interactions felt so real. amazing debut novel, can't wait to see what haley does next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
kleinekita's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Rape, and Sexual assault
amanda_marie's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
I’ve never before read a book that felt like the author put my thoughts into a book, but that’s exactly the feeling I had reading Old Enough. As a bisexual finding her community, the queer characters were so real and hilarious and I wished I had friends like Candace and Vera. I also fully respect Haley for writing main characters with multiple pronouns. It was refreshing to see such trans and non-binary representation in writing. As an overthinking insecure person, the narration cracked me up every single time. I am fortunate to not relate closely to the main trauma of the book, but I felt it that much more fully for the ways in which I had already related. And I found the switching of third and second person made those sections even more impactful. The ending was surprisingly satisfying despite my having no idea what would satisfy me. It is a beautifully endearing book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying and Transphobia
phoebeeandjam's review
emotional
funny
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
Old Enough is a queer coming-of-age story about a bisexual college student. This isn’t the kind of thing I typically reach for because it can so easily become cringey (like when an author tries too hard to relate to young people but misses the mark) buut I found this genuinely relatable. It was a little bit YA and a bit cheesy at some points but overall I enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
milliepaterson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence