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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Felt disappointing
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder, Death of parent
emotional
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:
Yes
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Fiction about Ellie, a 40 year old single woman with a 19 year old daughter. The book centred around her developing a relationship with a man who used to be her teacher (this felt very weird) and becoming friends with a woman called Alice. I could tell this was the author's first adult novel, as the writing style felt very much for children/YA. The main character was also written to be much older at times, but also didn't seem to know herself or her feelings at all which was frustrating. This just missed the mark in a lot of places and I didn't feel invested. Enjoyed the ending though!
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading this book was like bumping into an old friend, with the writing style being very familiar. However it felt very quickly like a friend I had outgrown. The main character's internal monologue felt very much like that of a teenager, which I'd expect from Jacqueline Wilson, but the character is 40. I found it very hard and frustrating watching her make the same mistakes repeatedly in her love life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
I was so excited to read this book, Jacqueline Wilson books made up the majority of my childhood reading and I loved the Girls series. So a sequel where Ellie, Magda and Nadine are approaching 40, seeing what they’ve been up to?? Yes please! Unfortunately this book didn’t deliver for me. Wilson is an excellent children’s writer, breaking down tough subjects in a way that makes it accessible to younger readers. This didn’t translate too well to adult fiction, and it often felt a little too simplistic.
But the content itself definitely wasn’t suitable for kids - or adults!! A relationship with your old teacher even when you are 40 and he is now 50 is simply unacceptable. This man knew you as a 13 year old, like no. I didn’t even feel happier when the book took a turn for the queer near the end (okay, a little bit happier).
I wanted more Nadine and Magda, but then when Magda was in a scene, the accent the narrator chose for her was pretty much unbearable. I may be misremembering from the books, but I’m certain she didn’t speak like the bloody queen. Overall it sadly just felt a bit clumsy and juvenile.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
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