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madeline_p4's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Drug use
Moderate: Pregnancy and Abortion
mindsplinters's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a good read and the unique method of how it was written, in the manner of interviews with the band and various other adjacent people, really helped sell the "now" feeling of rock and roll and history and messy messy relationships. It was interesting to see the various views of the same event all at once instead of spaced into different POV chapters. This stylistic choice definitely would not work for most but it did here, in a Rolling Stone memorial kind of way. That said, I could not stop myself from constantly thinking "Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac" because, well... Honestly. What other band had such dynamic personalities and messy interpersonal relationships etc? I'm of the age where that real history has become just another pop culture touch-point and I'm pretty sure Reid was fully aware of how she was going to be using that resonance every minute she was writing this book.
Most of the characters were messy and, often, downright unlikeable at various points but it made sense. These were bigger than life personalities and we were not meant to identify with them. Sympathize, maybe. Worry about them, castigate them, definitely. But they are not the sort of character you hang out with and have a nice chat. They're far too narrow-focused to be good company. Which actually made it interesting in the final chapter when we found out what everyone was up to post-band, post-fame.
To be 100% honest, though... I liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo better. :)
Most of the characters were messy and, often, downright unlikeable at various points but it made sense. These were bigger than life personalities and we were not meant to identify with them. Sympathize, maybe. Worry about them, castigate them, definitely. But they are not the sort of character you hang out with and have a nice chat. They're far too narrow-focused to be good company. Which actually made it interesting in the final chapter when we found out what everyone was up to post-band, post-fame.
To be 100% honest, though... I liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo better. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Violence, and Abortion
erinwolf1997's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Abortion, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
annagerman's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
This was just a fun time.
I really liked the characters, there was a strong cast of likable supporting characters, some of them were more superficial but still enjoyable.
I loved the setting - I'm a sucker for the 70s.
I'm really glad I listened to the book on audio, the full cast was amazing and gave a really distinct voice to each character, with great emotional preformances. I'm not even sure I would have made it though the book otherwise, cause the interview format in written form seems a bit boring. But the audio made it believable and engaging.
I really liked the characters, there was a strong cast of likable supporting characters, some of them were more superficial but still enjoyable.
I loved the setting - I'm a sucker for the 70s.
I'm really glad I listened to the book on audio, the full cast was amazing and gave a really distinct voice to each character, with great emotional preformances. I'm not even sure I would have made it though the book otherwise, cause the interview format in written form seems a bit boring. But the audio made it believable and engaging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Addiction
irinalast's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Death
annabella's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
For me, this was fine, but it was boring and really not much happened - which is okay, but I didn't feel enough connection to the characters to care about it being more character-focused. I'm interested in the author's writing as I think their approach to narrating books and creating fictions is more unique than I've seen, as in Evelyn Hugo, but, maybe it's because I was on the audiobook for this, it just felt extremely scattered and not cohesive. I found myself just wanting to get to the end, I knew it wouldn't really end well, but the whole book was an anti-climax that never felt it was even close to a climax in the first place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abortion
neliasbookshelf's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Addiction, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Cursing, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
escsmith's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It did take a while for me to get into, I don't think it was as easy for me to get into as TJR's other work. The narrative style was very unique and I enjoyed that change, particularly the element of very biased and unreliable narrators.
I felt that the female voices in this were given a platform. Three completely different women finding their place in the world and happiness, that so clearly not being the same for each of them and all of the pain and struggles they went through to get there.
Some of the characters were not very likeable and their attitudes really played into the dynamic of the band, I appreciated this aspect because I feel like this was much more realistic than them all being happy and friendly all the time.
While reading it, I felt like it could genuinely have been a memoir, the line between fiction and real life felt very blurred.
While I really enjoyed this, there are other TJR books that I enjoyed more.
I felt that the female voices in this were given a platform. Three completely different women finding their place in the world and happiness, that so clearly not being the same for each of them and all of the pain and struggles they went through to get there.
Some of the characters were not very likeable and their attitudes really played into the dynamic of the band, I appreciated this aspect because I feel like this was much more realistic than them all being happy and friendly all the time.
While reading it, I felt like it could genuinely have been a memoir, the line between fiction and real life felt very blurred.
While I really enjoyed this, there are other TJR books that I enjoyed more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Death
jpalms0626's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Literally no notes, this was SO GOOD. TJR has a way of writing these historical fiction characters that feels so lifelike. I found myself so many times wishing I could just do a deep dive on this band. The audiobook was a 10/10 listening experience, the full cast made it keep so real and raw. I love the complexity in these characters too and how gray they were. This is definitely a new favorite book of mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Abortion
juleseliasw's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Loved! I really enjoy the format and how much this book transports you into its world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content, Abortion, Infidelity, and Pregnancy