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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I almost gave up a few times. The incessant reference to items by their names (The Cozy Chair, The Perfect Mug, etc.) was beyond irritating for me. I skimmed on and finally reached the point where the story actually began. The premise is interesting, but I would have preferred a different setting or approach.
dark
mysterious
tense
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
For a moment I really thought this was going to be a romance novel. Which I would’ve been surprisingly okay with. But this book gave much more.
I hate when books with a twist get marketed as having a twist, and this book is a perfect demonstration of why-if you know there's a twist, and you're looking out for one, then it has kind of the most obvious twist to ever exist. But putting that aside--
I was such a fan of this book! I thought the corporate satire was really well done and the story contained a pitch-perfect portrayal of super nuanced gender dynamics. Mat was such a universal Man and I thought his characterization struck the perfect balance between being awful but also so believably charismatic. I hated him but never blamed everyone for loving him. Ava was a really interesting queer character that I'm not used to seeing represented and I found myself identifying with her a lot more than I expected considering the central relationship was between her and a man lol. Overall was a very big fan of the way queerness was woven into every aspect of this novel (the ava/jaime friendship <3) without it being a central component of the plot.
Ava was just like me fr (anxious, unhealthily reliant on routine, gay), Jaime was just like me fr (bitterly jealous, mad when his friends have other friends, gay), Mat was everything I hate in people rolled up into one-truly a PERFECTLY written villain! This book was comedic, tender, and thrilling all at once.
I was such a fan of this book! I thought the corporate satire was really well done and the story contained a pitch-perfect portrayal of super nuanced gender dynamics. Mat was such a universal Man and I thought his characterization struck the perfect balance between being awful but also so believably charismatic. I hated him but never blamed everyone for loving him. Ava was a really interesting queer character that I'm not used to seeing represented and I found myself identifying with her a lot more than I expected considering the central relationship was between her and a man lol. Overall was a very big fan of the way queerness was woven into every aspect of this novel (the ava/jaime friendship <3) without it being a central component of the plot.
Ava was just like me fr (anxious, unhealthily reliant on routine, gay), Jaime was just like me fr (bitterly jealous, mad when his friends have other friends, gay), Mat was everything I hate in people rolled up into one-truly a PERFECTLY written villain! This book was comedic, tender, and thrilling all at once.
Even if she didn't work at STÄDA, Ava Simon would have furnished her apartment with STÄDA products. They were functional, well-designed household items, free of unnecessary decorations and features.
As I sit here trying to write a review for The Very Nice Box, my brain is beginning to ache. Not because I either loved or hated this book, but rather because I simply don't know how I feel about it. This satirical take on the modern workplace finds Ava Simon, numbed from years of isolation after an accident that stole her parents and fiancée, reluctantly falling for her new boss. Admittedly, this isn't necessarily the genre I go for but the promise of a shocking twist that pushes us into thriller territory tempted me. It just felt like I was oscillating between enjoying aspects of the book and disliking others.
On one hand, I liked the premise and felt super connected to scenes where Ava is contemplating her grief and loneliness. On the other, the barrage of quirky furniture titles with adjectives galore fell flat for me and, frankly, broke up the flow of the writing incessantly. *But* then we have a twist near the end that is creepy as hell and tickled my thriller bone...unfortunately, every aspect of this reveal is something that I'd sort of figured from the heavy foreshadowing. I felt like this for much of The Very Nice Box, unable to really pin down what I was feeling at a given moment.
The scenes between Jaime and Ava were, hands down, the highlight of the book. They felt entirely natural. It's a well-written, interesting concept for a book, but it's one that could've been at least fifty pages shorter. If you like workplace romances gone wrong, this may be better suited for you!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wish the characterss were a bit more flushed out, but I appreciated the surprise ending! Fun read
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
never bored me but i also didn't get much from it
dark
funny
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This was moderately enjoyable but kind of dragged on, and the twist was somewhat predictable - which I don't necessarily have a problem with, but the synopsis made it sound more convoluted or surprising. (Speaking of misinformed expectations, this book was likened to Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine (one of my favorite books ever), and it wasn't really like that at all, beyond the main character being methodical and enjoying a bland routine and solitary existence. Otherwise, that book is significantly funnier, more interesting, and surprising.) Also, the running joke of calling everything by its official STADA name was a little funny at first but got old fast. I guess the main aspect I liked was the satire of hip corporate culture and the portrayal of men's rights groups and those who follow them.