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aus_1521's review
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
luckykosmos's review
lighthearted
medium-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
3.25
Read this as a quick pick-me-up, and in that way, it succeeded. It was light, airy, had a good male lead and a good group of friends. The beginning was weak, but everything after was solid enough to keep me entertained. Mary as a protagonist is a really interesting idea, but in first person, also came off somewhat pretentious - the contrast between her and her friends works nicely, but personally I may have preferred this one in third person. Two other points:
1) There was a throw-away joke about dissociative identity disorder that was made in response to a pushy flirter, that really didn't feel necessary.
2) This cast is extremely heterogenous, with the only gay character pushed for stereotypes, and one of the three noted POC being a selfish almost-antagonist for most of the book. Terry on the other hand was a good combination of non-white without being tokenized, but when the only other nonwhite characters we know are Pittaya (who, as a character description, is Big and Quiet and only appears twice) and Anjuli (who recurs frequently, almost always negatively) it puts a sour tastes in my mouth.
On the whole - fun, easy read, with a protagonist who starts off unlikeable but makes interesting attempts at friendship, in an extremely whitewashed story.
1) There was a throw-away joke about dissociative identity disorder that was made in response to a pushy flirter, that really didn't feel necessary.
2) This cast is extremely heterogenous, with the only gay character pushed for stereotypes, and one of the three noted POC being a selfish almost-antagonist for most of the book. Terry on the other hand was a good combination of non-white without being tokenized, but when the only other nonwhite characters we know are Pittaya (who, as a character description, is Big and Quiet and only appears twice) and Anjuli (who recurs frequently, almost always negatively) it puts a sour tastes in my mouth.
On the whole - fun, easy read, with a protagonist who starts off unlikeable but makes interesting attempts at friendship, in an extremely whitewashed story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism
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