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jnestwd's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book was so infuriating, I loved it.
God Andy was annoying. Annoying because everything about his insufferable, whiny, self-pitying character is so FAMILIAR.
We all know/have dated an Andy.
And Jen’s act of radical self-love to prioritise her own wants and needs above that of Andy’s, served as an intoxicating reminder that we all have permission to choose our own path. Her chapter at the end read like my own innermost thoughts at times from relationships past where I was searching for a way out.
Dolly masterfully captured the reality of dating and relationships in your 30s with complex and interesting characters that felt entirely believable and relatable.
P.S. petition for a Jen spin off!!!
God Andy was annoying. Annoying because everything about his insufferable, whiny, self-pitying character is so FAMILIAR.
We all know/have dated an Andy.
And Jen’s act of radical self-love to prioritise her own wants and needs above that of Andy’s, served as an intoxicating reminder that we all have permission to choose our own path. Her chapter at the end read like my own innermost thoughts at times from relationships past where I was searching for a way out.
Dolly masterfully captured the reality of dating and relationships in your 30s with complex and interesting characters that felt entirely believable and relatable.
P.S. petition for a Jen spin off!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, Abandonment, Cursing, Grief, and Pregnancy
mads_jpg's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I think this book may have been advertised wrong, because I went in to this book STOKED for the premise of a man trying to figure out why his girlfriend dumped him. In the prime time of people discussing weaponised incompetence and men doing the bare minimum, I really expected this to be an interesting story about a man slowly realising all the ways he mistreated his partner. But it honestly wasn't.
The book is mostly just a critique of how men aren't very good at emotionally supporting each other through events like breakups and the general shittiness of being dumped. But that's pretty much it, he doesn't really make any revelations or grow a lot as a character. Maybe that's the point, since that's the case for most men like him in reality, but that's not as interesting to me.
Ironically, the best part of the book is the final chapter from Jen's perspective. I think this book would've really benefitted from either alternating between them, or being solely from her view, because she was far more interesting than Andy.
I also hated the whole side plot about him dating a 23 year old, the book was definitely critical of it, but not enough in my opinion.
Overall it was still an alright book, I read it very quickly and it flowed well, but I think the advertised premise was a lot more interesting than the execution.
If you want a book with a similar premise but slightly better execution, Out of Love by Hazel Hayes plays out a relationship in reverse, starting with the breakup and ending with the day they met, to me it was much more impactful.
The book is mostly just a critique of how men aren't very good at emotionally supporting each other through events like breakups and the general shittiness of being dumped. But that's pretty much it, he doesn't really make any revelations or grow a lot as a character. Maybe that's the point, since that's the case for most men like him in reality, but that's not as interesting to me.
I also hated the whole side plot about him dating a 23 year old, the book was definitely critical of it, but not enough in my opinion.
Overall it was still an alright book, I read it very quickly and it flowed well, but I think the advertised premise was a lot more interesting than the execution.
If you want a book with a similar premise but slightly better execution, Out of Love by Hazel Hayes plays out a relationship in reverse, starting with the breakup and ending with the day they met, to me it was much more impactful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Cursing
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Eating disorder, Medical content, Stalking, Abandonment, Misogyny, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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