7.93k reviews for:

Exciting Times

Naoise Dolan

3.35 AVERAGE

frankiecully's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful

abbyreimer's review against another edition

3.5

funny reflective medium-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

0beansidhe0's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

nadan's review against another edition

4.75

emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

livburney's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark 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

cristilopach's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective 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

snoober's review against another edition

4.25

challenging funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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i don't know if this was the intent of the book but what i took away from it are mostly implied positions that i align with ava, the narrator, on. one of them is that loving women is scary and difficult, so it's best to not let a woman know you love her until she loves you. second, it's so easy to stay with a man who treats you moderately badly and who you don't particularly like. it is less scary to do that than to risk emotional vulnerability with a strong, wonderful woman who you very much enjoy being with.

i know that the end of the novel is unclear on whether she actually runs off with edith or goes to the airport with julian until the very end, and i really feel that way about life. i would stick with a man who doesn't make me happy until i'm sure a woman who does actually wants me. the made me think about how much a miserable man's attention is worth compared to a cool woman's. 

anywayyyyyy i think the main character is a pretty bad person and i related to her a lot. this was upsetting to realize. there were some funny jokes in this book too. in other news, i am starting couple's counseling with my bf next week

sadie_jp's review against another edition

2.5

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Well written deeply dislikable protagonist that had the unfortunate effect of making me dislike the whole book. I want to be someone who can appreciate an intentionally irritating main character and still give a positive review, but this book is not it. Nothing happens in this book beyond what the blurb on the back says, I guess read this if you want an ironic story about a bonkers Irish woman and the terrible man she sleeps with? Pretty forgettable. I've seen reviews comparing this to Sally Rooney, and I don't like Sally Rooney either, so maybe I'm just not picking up what the author's putting down. 

rianebh's review against another edition

4.25

funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I find the degree of overthinking present in this book quite relatable. And similarly, I struggle to conclude whether or not any of it possesses any actual insight. I think it must, or else I wouldn’t have liked it as much as I did. 

karenchiarajo's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes