Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Less

i was surprised by how much this disappointed me. i’ve heard a few rave about this book and it’s been nominated for and won many awards. i really didn’t understand the hype and felt like it was a pretty lack luster story. i feel like maybe i just didn’t understand it or something idk.

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isabelmary's review against another edition

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hopeful 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

3.0

not mad that I read it but would not re-read. lots of wisdom, compassion and insight from the author. highbrow eat pray love with very little time for developing any characters beyond the main character, who sadly was not as endearing to me as the author hoped. prose is beautiful but often overdone. the whole thing ends up being very very meta and actually the final third does pull it off, but that couldn’t stop the first half from feeling like a gentle little drag. still nice to see happy books win prizes.

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leethrp's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.0

What an adventure of a novel!

This book grew on me the more I read it– my appreciation grew more with every chapter and, at last, came to a wholesome, satisfying hault with Less' ending. Initially, or around halfway through the novel, my preemptive review lingered around a 3 star rating, but upon finishing Less and turning the corners of the last few pages, this book sits at a solid 4 out of 5.

The writing is sweet, playful, and primarily lighthearted while still able to instill a serious impression when circumstances call for it. The dialogue is convincing, charming, and witty. Delicious figurative language litters almost every page and charming narration follows throughout.

There is a kind of soft unpredictability in all the right places in this novel, making it a comfortable read with the right amount of excitement that kept me engaged with Greer's writing.

It is hard to place what exactly kept Less from a perfect 5 star rating—possibly my preference for heavier content in my reads—but nonetheless, Arthur Less and his narrator were a joy to journey with around the world.

I'd highly recommend picking up this book if you're looking for queer contemporary fiction with a satirical spin, a book rich with description that will sweep you away to foreign countries with its protagonist, or a novel that candidly reckons with aging, break-ups, romance, and the tragedy of a birthday.

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vaniavela's review against another edition

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emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

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spookily's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

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