Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness
Minor: Transphobia
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment
Main POVs: 👌
-a 24 year old recent fine art graduate who presents as carefree, confident, and adventurous but is harbouring a deep sense of shame, depressive disorders, and unhealthy ego. They blame everyone and everything for their struggles. We get to see them slowly evolve and where it comes from in their past
-a 44 year old functional alcoholic and advertising entrepreneur who is successful and perhaps a “charming” drunk but painfully immature and people-pleasing in a shallow way. We also see them evolve and where this tendency comes from
-a witty, intuitive, cynical 37 year old television/film writer recently forced out of their job and now living with their elderly wise-cracking parent
Show’n’tell: ❤️
So much show! Though half the time you aren’t quite sure what you’re being shown, it adds to the story. Like bringing a neon crayon set in an unlabelled package, revealing them individually, then passing them around the class.
Reading Journey: 👌
People-watching on the NY subway from early morning ‘til late night. There will be moments of boredom, confusion, cringing, heartwarmth (?), and laughter.
Great match if you like:
-literary fiction with character-driven narratives that are infuriating, hilarious, and inspiring
-believable outcomes (follows MCs over a two-year period)
-character studies involving addiction, mental illness, and childhood trauma
-NYC party vibes with consequences included
-a sprinkling of randomness
-wrong time and place romance
Vibes: 😅🥺🥴
Format: Library E-book via Libby
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence
the prose is stunning and also so witty , i genuinely loved the sense of humor which is quite rare for me to truly come across.
what fascinated me the most though: the author genuinely has a GIFT for writing characters, each and every single one of them was incredibly nuanced, unique and so very *human*. you feel like you have or could have maybe met them along your own way navigating your 20s, they are all in super different stages and living situations, so it is a very diverse set of people too, although without having this feeling forced or unnatural in any way !
the only thing to criticize to me is what unfortunately also stems from having quite the large set of wonderful & loveable characters, is that i felt i saw too little of some of them, i get that the focus was on frank & cleo but i easily could've read on about all of them haha. also
still, the book is probably a new favorite now!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Transphobia, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness
Minor: Chronic illness, Toxic friendship
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail