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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident
I found this to be immersive and full of amusing pokes at work, life, and the balance between. It was also a fantastic exploration of grief and THE AUDACITY. The last bit goes a little fast and forced, but it was alright. I would have enjoyed it more had I not expected it and thus predicted it long before it happened. Wouldn't call it a thriller haha it's honestly a slow build. I'd consider it more of a thriller if we were in on it much sooner and saw it all take shape differently.
Those points taken off, it was still entertaining to me. It might not be for everyone, but I was taken in immediately. Plenty of moments I yelled, laughed out loud, and shook my head or rolled my eyes in amusement throughout.
Those points taken off, it was still entertaining to me. It might not be for everyone, but I was taken in immediately. Plenty of moments I yelled, laughed out loud, and shook my head or rolled my eyes in amusement throughout.
It didn't take much reading to know that this was going to be a book that I'd enjoy a lot. It's set in an IKEA-like company with a lot of silly corporate behavior that hits pretty close to home for me. I liked how the authors toed the line between reality and absurdity for the corporate setting, the perfect recipe for humor!
Ava, the main character, is a no-nonsense, talented engineer whose world revolves around her job and her passion project of creating a very specific sort box. Her new boss is the exact sort of guy she'd hate and/or make fun of, a bro's bro who is more about image than substance and is used to having everything go his way. It should be a recipe for disaster, but they end up oddly drawn to each other.
With that setup, I was expecting a standard rom-com where the two main characters hate each other at first but end up falling in love anyway. That is not how this book went, but I found myself pleasantly surprised by the originality. Definitely recommended!
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ava, the main character, is a no-nonsense, talented engineer whose world revolves around her job and her passion project of creating a very specific sort box. Her new boss is the exact sort of guy she'd hate and/or make fun of, a bro's bro who is more about image than substance and is used to having everything go his way. It should be a recipe for disaster, but they end up oddly drawn to each other.
With that setup, I was expecting a standard rom-com where the two main characters hate each other at first but end up falling in love anyway. That is not how this book went, but I found myself pleasantly surprised by the originality. Definitely recommended!
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book surprised me. I needed a book that felt different and more character driven, especially when it comes to their flaws and imperfections and let’s just say that this book gave that for every character in the book.
What this book reminded of: never trust the super nice straight guy who lives too much by the self-help agenda!
What this book reminded of: never trust the super nice straight guy who lives too much by the self-help agenda!
dark
emotional
funny
I LOVED THIS!! The Very Nice Box deals with a lot of emotions without making the reader feel bogged down by hard topics. The grief is so palpable and yet Ava is so smart and funny and dry you just ROOT and HOPE for her so desperately!
And when it says this book is a thriller, it means it. The suspense is quick and punchy and VERY real. I could not recommend this morel
And when it says this book is a thriller, it means it. The suspense is quick and punchy and VERY real. I could not recommend this morel
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Stalking, Car accident
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unique and well written from a technical standpoint, but SO slow to get through. At one point I checked after reading for what felt like several hours, and found I was less than a hundred pages in.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i really liked this book for all its silly furniture names and pacing. i also thought ava was a realistic character—she let her grief totally consume her and her actions made sense (to me!) the ending was a bit……….unbelievable, especially the bit in the warehouse. thats the only thing keeping this book from a 4.0,,, i did definitely think she was about to get murdered though, so i guess i’m happier for that than anything else. i was really on her side throughout the whole thing—when you’re being manipulated like that, it’s hard to accept help
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief