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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
emotional
relaxing
slow-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
funny
mysterious
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
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
As far as thrillers go, this one erred on the side of predictable, but that didn't make it any less compelling to read or make the ending any less satisfying. Ava made for a great character study - she was pretty unlikeable at the beginning, but as the novel progresses, I became more and more confused about how I felt about her - and I count that as a good thing. Definitely recommended for both IKEA devotees and anyone who has ever rolled their eyes at start-up culture.
Really on board for the first half, then somewhere in the latter I lost steam. I am not loving these third act "the-antagonist-is-actually-wildly-evil"
Like it feels like the stories leave the real world and I much prefer when the evils/harms are not as heavy handed/more subtle
Like it feels like the stories leave the real world and I much prefer when the evils/harms are not as heavy handed/more subtle
Even if Ava Simon didn't work as a box engineer for STÄDA, she'd probably still have her apartment furnished with their products. They're simple, functional and no more what they say. And that's exactly what she needs, especially as she tries to recover from the tragic loss of her girlfriend and parents and throws herself into work and designing her passion project - The Very Nice Box.
Ava likes everything to be exactly like it says on the box and nothing more. So when a relationship starts to grow between her and her new charismatic and categorically handsome boss, Mat, she doesn't know what to do when she discovers he isn't exactly what he appears to. Their relationship is about to take a sharp turn into unknown territory along with everything else in her perfectly engineered life.
"Falling in love with Mat was the feeling of jumping from a very high perch, yet somehow it was also the feeling of safety; of a key sliding into a lock; of gears meeting precisely."
This is searing tale of despair and recovery. A hilarious parody of modern corporate culture. A reflection on male privilege and ignorance. A testament to the power of human connection. A witty observation about contemporary life and it's unique pressures. A love story.
And a very nice book.
This easily readable, fast-moving story has enough breakneck twists to leave you with a very sore neck and an aching heart. You'd think that prose littered with ikea-esque language would get old and awkward, but this refreshingly unique take on corporate language was addictively engrossing and created an encompassing world building that was simply amazing.
The characters were affecting and moving - full of quirk and charm, with questions and insecurities rooted deeply in the curiousness of modern life. We see our characters reflect on the fluidity of sexuality and identity, and explore the many facets of what makes us human.
The authors manage to bring a gripping witty humour and provoke a deeply evocative response throughout - full of romance, intrigue and just a bit of mystery all wrapped up in a very nice box.
Ava likes everything to be exactly like it says on the box and nothing more. So when a relationship starts to grow between her and her new charismatic and categorically handsome boss, Mat, she doesn't know what to do when she discovers he isn't exactly what he appears to. Their relationship is about to take a sharp turn into unknown territory along with everything else in her perfectly engineered life.
"Falling in love with Mat was the feeling of jumping from a very high perch, yet somehow it was also the feeling of safety; of a key sliding into a lock; of gears meeting precisely."
This is searing tale of despair and recovery. A hilarious parody of modern corporate culture. A reflection on male privilege and ignorance. A testament to the power of human connection. A witty observation about contemporary life and it's unique pressures. A love story.
And a very nice book.
This easily readable, fast-moving story has enough breakneck twists to leave you with a very sore neck and an aching heart. You'd think that prose littered with ikea-esque language would get old and awkward, but this refreshingly unique take on corporate language was addictively engrossing and created an encompassing world building that was simply amazing.
The characters were affecting and moving - full of quirk and charm, with questions and insecurities rooted deeply in the curiousness of modern life. We see our characters reflect on the fluidity of sexuality and identity, and explore the many facets of what makes us human.
The authors manage to bring a gripping witty humour and provoke a deeply evocative response throughout - full of romance, intrigue and just a bit of mystery all wrapped up in a very nice box.
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying, Cursing
emotional
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
A good book! We love a knockoff IKEA workplace. In the beginning I was soooo stressed for Ava. I just KNEW Mat was sick and twisted and I want her to be happy!! She's very relatable. But it all works out in the end.