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meganbyrd77's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Classism
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had strange feelings about this one. It did feel like Otessa Moshfegh, which wasn't my jam, so it makes sense that this one hit me a little weird too. I haven't quite pinpointed what I wasn't in love with about the writing, but I do admire that this kind of self-centered pleasure-seeking is being done by women (and women of color) characters and not white men. So maybe it's not my thing, but I'm glad that it's happening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Drug use, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Blood, Sexual content, Racism, and Infidelity
lidia7's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use and Grief
Minor: Sexism, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Cancer, Abortion, Vomit, Animal death, and Classism
chaos_animates's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Cancer
kaii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Classism, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Drug use, Racism, and Xenophobia
savvylit's review
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
There are a lot of books about partying in New York City. However, none of them read quite like Happy Hour. Isa and Gala are on tourist visas. The two friends are so often broke because they can only seek under-the-table jobs that pay in cash. Their tourist status also gives a finite length to their NYC era since their visas are 6 months long. This lends Happy Hour a voyeuristic quality. As tourists, Isa and Gala are inevitably relegated to outsider status.
On the surface, Happy Hour is a book about two girls having (mostly) good times. Isa and Gala - but especially Isa - are incredibly charming and extroverted. They are the perfect duo for finding fun and mischief on nights out in NYC. As the novel progresses, though, there's a subtle thread of class consciousness and racial identity. Isa is a brown person of mixed race. Throughout Happy Hour, Isa faces many microaggressions that she notes with detachment or amusement depending on the occasion. Additionally, some of her wealthy acquaintances view her as less of a person and more of an amusement to keep around. That being said, Granados never outrightly moralizes in the pages of Happy Hour. Her criticism of the bourgeoisie is, however, easily inferred.
Ultimately, Happy Hour is a book about the power of connection and the strength of friendship. Isa's distinct voice is unlike any other narrator I've experienced. She's effortlessly cool and charming while still remaining real and complex. After doing some web sleuthing, it seems that Isa is strongly based on Granados herself. Please excuse me while I go read everything Marlowe Granados has ever written and try to absorb even just one iota of her wit and confidence.
On the surface, Happy Hour is a book about two girls having (mostly) good times. Isa and Gala - but especially Isa - are incredibly charming and extroverted. They are the perfect duo for finding fun and mischief on nights out in NYC. As the novel progresses, though, there's a subtle thread of class consciousness and racial identity. Isa is a brown person of mixed race. Throughout Happy Hour, Isa faces many microaggressions that she notes with detachment or amusement depending on the occasion. Additionally, some of her wealthy acquaintances view her as less of a person and more of an amusement to keep around. That being said, Granados never outrightly moralizes in the pages of Happy Hour. Her criticism of the bourgeoisie is, however, easily inferred.
Ultimately, Happy Hour is a book about the power of connection and the strength of friendship. Isa's distinct voice is unlike any other narrator I've experienced. She's effortlessly cool and charming while still remaining real and complex. After doing some web sleuthing, it seems that Isa is strongly based on Granados herself. Please excuse me while I go read everything Marlowe Granados has ever written and try to absorb even just one iota of her wit and confidence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Classism, and Alcohol
rgrgrg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Classism
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