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nialystic's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Classism and Toxic relationship
cspa's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this book, and I'd like to begin by highlighting what I liked about it. The book provides insightful commentary on the relationships between influencers and followers, social media, privilege, class, and racial structures. The unnamed narrator's obsessive and erratic behavior intrigued me, as I've recently appreciated reading about unpredictable and unhinged female protagonist for added drama. However, I felt that the potential for dramatic tension wasn't fully explored to my liking, although the book remained engaging for the reasons mentioned earlier.
The commentary in the book was remarkably perceptive and thought-provoking, adding depth and sharpness to the narrative. So much so, that even with the lower raking, highly recommend reading this book for its insightfulness. While it was my favorite aspect as it encouraged deep reflection, I'm unsure if the protagonist's vibrant and unruly personality seamlessly aligned with the overarching heavier themes in the more essay-like chapters, leading to a somewhat disjointed experience.
Conversely, as someone with mild dyslexia, I found the book's format to be challenging. The abundance of run-on sentences, lengthy paragraphs that could be divided, and the absence of quotation marks for dialogue made it difficult to follow. I recognize that this style mirrors the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness narration and her unstable nature. Which I appriciate but did struggle with. At the halfway mark, I bought the audiobook to enhance my reading experience, and I regret not doing it earlier. The author's captivating narration truly brought the character to life in a authentic way my brain alone couldn’t.
My last qualm, I wish the timeline had been clearer and more linear, as the frequent shifts between past and present tense were somewhat disorienting.
In conclusion, I believe it's valuable to read due to its insightful analysis. Additionally, it's a shorter book with chapters of varying lengths so there’s no harm in giving it a shot!
Ultimately, I enjoyed it, but I didn't adore it.
The commentary in the book was remarkably perceptive and thought-provoking, adding depth and sharpness to the narrative. So much so, that even with the lower raking, highly recommend reading this book for its insightfulness. While it was my favorite aspect as it encouraged deep reflection, I'm unsure if the protagonist's vibrant and unruly personality seamlessly aligned with the overarching heavier themes in the more essay-like chapters, leading to a somewhat disjointed experience.
Conversely, as someone with mild dyslexia, I found the book's format to be challenging. The abundance of run-on sentences, lengthy paragraphs that could be divided, and the absence of quotation marks for dialogue made it difficult to follow. I recognize that this style mirrors the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness narration and her unstable nature. Which I appriciate but did struggle with. At the halfway mark, I bought the audiobook to enhance my reading experience, and I regret not doing it earlier. The author's captivating narration truly brought the character to life in a authentic way my brain alone couldn’t.
My last qualm, I wish the timeline had been clearer and more linear, as the frequent shifts between past and present tense were somewhat disorienting.
In conclusion, I believe it's valuable to read due to its insightful analysis. Additionally, it's a shorter book with chapters of varying lengths so there’s no harm in giving it a shot!
Ultimately, I enjoyed it, but I didn't adore it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic relationship
bookishconnections's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I rarely rate books so low but I don’t quite understand how this book got published apart from the unknown and unnamed narrator’s obsession with a famous man who is not named.
She’s literally obsessed with him and his other girlfriends and wives to the point she stalks one of his paramour’s half sister and tries to ingrain herself in their life.
The writing was excellent at times but a lot of times I tuned out because it was so repetitive and flat and also because the narrator just didn’t seem to want to move on from this obsessive and toxic relationship.
I was not a fan of this book.
She’s literally obsessed with him and his other girlfriends and wives to the point she stalks one of his paramour’s half sister and tries to ingrain herself in their life.
The writing was excellent at times but a lot of times I tuned out because it was so repetitive and flat and also because the narrator just didn’t seem to want to move on from this obsessive and toxic relationship.
I was not a fan of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
kkpines's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
girl there’s medication for these kind of things
incredibly stagnant book with a delusional narrator.. starts off with a lot of unhinged promise and delves into a slightly pathetic, whiney, narcissistic stream of consciousness.
two(ish?) stars
incredibly stagnant book with a delusional narrator.. starts off with a lot of unhinged promise and delves into a slightly pathetic, whiney, narcissistic stream of consciousness.
two(ish?) stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Bullying
rachela_7's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Stalking
Moderate: Domestic abuse
emma_sky's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Gaslighting, Sexism, Colonisation, Stalking, and Mental illness
Minor: Drug use
contemporarymeepsie's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I'm A Fan follows the inner thoughts of an unknown speaker as she blunders through the muddying mires of toxic relationships and obsession.
I did not like this book. That is not to say it was a bad book. Just that it wasn't for me personally. The protagonist is very unlikeable and quite hostile in her thoughts which given the topics she discusses is understandable, but at the same time feels a little hypocritical given her lack of morality. But that is also what makes her real. As I said, this is not a bad book, it has a lot going for it. But the unconscious train of thought style of writing, the jumping around in what little plot there was and the lack of any sort of ending really bothered me. The story just kind of stops, but it isn't like she learns anything or changes her ways, if anything the ending portrays the protagonist as continuing down the path of unscrupulous behaviour to do something I would consider morally rotten rather then just grey. I will give this book one thing, it certainly made me think and maybe that's all it ever wanted to achieve.
I did not like this book. That is not to say it was a bad book. Just that it wasn't for me personally. The protagonist is very unlikeable and quite hostile in her thoughts which given the topics she discusses is understandable, but at the same time feels a little hypocritical given her lack of morality. But that is also what makes her real. As I said, this is not a bad book, it has a lot going for it. But the unconscious train of thought style of writing, the jumping around in what little plot there was and the lack of any sort of ending really bothered me. The story just kind of stops, but it isn't like she learns anything or changes her ways, if anything the ending portrays the protagonist as continuing down the path of unscrupulous behaviour to do something I would consider morally rotten rather then just grey. I will give this book one thing, it certainly made me think and maybe that's all it ever wanted to achieve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
caroisreading's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Labeling this book as "a story about a woman obsessed" would be too much of a disservice to this incredible work, though I admit it's the hook that got me to pick it up in the first place.
It's a series of short, satisfying chapters documenting our protagonist's affair with a married man, her infatuation with the other woman he's also cheating with, and commentary on racism, capitalism, sexism binding it all together. Everything felt so personal, like thoughts ripped straight from my head -- my minority-complex inferiority to the white woman ideal, my inferiority to a man who doesn't want me but wants to use me, my desperation to belong to something built against me, my fertility as a weapon and as a release.
Sheena Patel's writing is so incredibly addicting, and while it mimics a kind of Gen Z tone, it's grounded with a raw hopelessness that I haven't felt from reading in a while.
You'll enjoy this is you want to read more themes on modern relationships, race and female perspectives.
It's a series of short, satisfying chapters documenting our protagonist's affair with a married man, her infatuation with the other woman he's also cheating with, and commentary on racism, capitalism, sexism binding it all together. Everything felt so personal, like thoughts ripped straight from my head -- my minority-complex inferiority to the white woman ideal, my inferiority to a man who doesn't want me but wants to use me, my desperation to belong to something built against me, my fertility as a weapon and as a release.
Sheena Patel's writing is so incredibly addicting, and while it mimics a kind of Gen Z tone, it's grounded with a raw hopelessness that I haven't felt from reading in a while.
You'll enjoy this is you want to read more themes on modern relationships, race and female perspectives.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
ewwa18's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Infidelity
Moderate: Racism and Stalking
bookwormteddy's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
i’m gonna be honest, i struggled with this book. like. i get it, right? comparing yourself to, feeling inferior to, and fighting for attention from seemingly mediocre, rich white people makes you crazy. been there, felt that! we get a lot of discussion of race dynamics, class, white feminism, performative allyship without really expanding on them in any meaningful way. these things are harmful, not because they’re by-products of oppressive systems but because they just? piss the narrator off?
there is very little plot, which typically doesn’t bother me, but i cared so little for the few characters we met that i found myself getting so frustrated with the narrator. she is so unlikeable that i never really felt bad for her. i found myself yelling, girl get off the floor!! go to therapy!! stop it!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse