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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I... don't know what to make of this book. I felt like a lot of it was pretty obvious, but I'm going to use spoiler tags anyway as I get into specifics.
Before I do that, though, I will say that from the first moment Mat appeared on the scene, this is who I pictured:
So, yeah, it was kind of hard for me to understand the attraction.
And can I also say that Ava is a terrible friend? It was so irritating that she never once listened to Jaime, whom she had know for years. Yeah, I know this happens at times when someone becomes infatuated with a love interest, but it was hard for me to really sympathize with Ava when I was #TeamJaime from the getgo.
I did think the ending took a pleasing turn for the weird, but it was a combination of too little too late and an awfully large ask when it came to me suspending my disbelief. I wasn't sure the book was really building up to anything, so I was glad to be wrong, but I wasn't expecting it to build up to THAT, and I wasn't sold either.)
Before I do that, though, I will say that from the first moment Mat appeared on the scene, this is who I pictured:
So, yeah, it was kind of hard for me to understand the attraction.
Spoiler
I get that there was a whole lot of gaslighting going on, but it never once made sense to me that Ava fell so hard for the guy. Why? What was it about him that attracted her, other than the fact that her "SHRNK" kept prodding her toward going out with him. (Naturally, it probably goes without saying that as out there as the ending got, I wasn't at all surprised when it turned out Mat had been her "SHRNK" all along.)And can I also say that Ava is a terrible friend? It was so irritating that she never once listened to Jaime, whom she had know for years. Yeah, I know this happens at times when someone becomes infatuated with a love interest, but it was hard for me to really sympathize with Ava when I was #TeamJaime from the getgo.
I did think the ending took a pleasing turn for the weird, but it was a combination of too little too late and an awfully large ask when it came to me suspending my disbelief. I wasn't sure the book was really building up to anything, so I was glad to be wrong, but I wasn't expecting it to build up to THAT, and I wasn't sold either.)
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book really surprised and delighted me— it was funny and unexpected.
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
That book was terrible !!!! Or maybe really good??????? Like props to the author for finishing a novel because that’s an impressive feat to accomplish. Some of it was a funny satire around toxic positivity and the horror of self improvement when it becomes something that enables bad behavior. But I found Ava’s fall into her relationship with Mat very unbelievable as I was reading it. I know part of the framing was purposeful — making the reader see how toxic and manipulative the relationship was — but I also was unable to see any compelling chemistry between Ava and Mat. Yes, part of it is just like oooh the glow of masculinity and male validation but most of that was overshadowed by his annoying and stupid behaviors. Ugh, also, Lamby? Cringe. So, maybe it was well written in that it made me feel literal anger in my blood towards Mat? He’s a very good villain but I knew he was the villain from the get go. I did not feel seduced by him and I think a seduction bait and switch would’ve made it more compelling.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Fell flat at the end, but overall a unique and nicely written book