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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved this as a nostalgia read, not groundbreaking, but a lovely cosy read for fans of the original books. Very much read like a YA or even middle grade novel in style though, despite the addition of adult topics. I also wish the plot had gone further - we want to know what happened next! There was unnecessary repetition in the middle that could've been skipped to make space for the plot to advance further. My rating is perhaps boosted because none of this stopped me from enjoying it.
Re the audio narration - the voice used for Magda was insufferable, unrealistic and so unnecessary. This took away from the parts of the book where she appeared.
Re the audio narration - the voice used for Magda was insufferable, unrealistic and so unnecessary. This took away from the parts of the book where she appeared.
Content Warnings
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
slow-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Hmm overhyped. Felt very much like a normal Jaqueline Wilson book, felt very teenager-y, but with more adult themes. And the shameless plug of The Illustrated Mum annoyed me!!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
I’m glad that Ellie finally got her happy ending but she felt very selfish at times and also very whingy like she was in the previous books other than that I loved the nostalgia and references of Wilson’s other work that we all grew up with!
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Very easy read and loved the nostalgia, but it was really underwhelming. Ellie hated Guy from the beginning, and we had to wait 300 pages for her to dump him? BOOOO
Was so nostalgic but the story just wasn’t it.
I was expecting something more adult but it’s probably just the same as when we used to read her books as young girls, with the words sex appearing a little more.
Mr Windsor was just awful, he very clearly has a thing for his students even when the girls were in school and now he’s living out his fantasy.
Ellie fantasises about Alice twice and then has a sexual awakening for her?
I don’t really get Magda’s situation it didn’t fit her at all and tbh I feel like their stories were even really explored.
Also: Alice asked who Ellie would’ve asked to take care of Lottie if she died when she was little? She said Ben?? Ben would’ve been around 6 when Ellie was 20. Make it make sense.
I think this book would’ve been better carrying on where we left off, exploring the story of Ellie as a young single mum, exploring Ben’s sexuality and meeting Simon, and more of the girls journey through their 20’s.
I really wanted to love it but maybe I just had high expectations.
I was expecting something more adult but it’s probably just the same as when we used to read her books as young girls, with the words sex appearing a little more.
Mr Windsor was just awful, he very clearly has a thing for his students even when the girls were in school and now he’s living out his fantasy.
Ellie fantasises about Alice twice and then has a sexual awakening for her?
I don’t really get Magda’s situation it didn’t fit her at all and tbh I feel like their stories were even really explored.
Also: Alice asked who Ellie would’ve asked to take care of Lottie if she died when she was little? She said Ben?? Ben would’ve been around 6 when Ellie was 20. Make it make sense.
I think this book would’ve been better carrying on where we left off, exploring the story of Ellie as a young single mum, exploring Ben’s sexuality and meeting Simon, and more of the girls journey through their 20’s.
I really wanted to love it but maybe I just had high expectations.