Reviews

Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan

destinae's review against another edition

2.75

This book, like its protagonist, desperately wants to be loved. This book, like its protagonist, falls apart spectacularly upon achieving its excellence. This book, like its protagonist, fails to acknowledge its strengths and only accentuates its weaknesses.

Almost dnf’d at 90% when the author decided to turn the book into a marathon of graphic depictions of SA. Because sure, why not

sequoviah's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

batmanbussy's review against another edition

4.0

the prose was often rlly pretty and there were a bunch of quotations where i thought yess me (towards the start majorly)

maggiesasha's review against another edition

3.0

Disturbing

cdd727's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

nachonoemi_'s review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I definitely understand the appeal of this book. the writing was very beautiful.

however, i feel like it belongs in the same category as rupi kaur books, an exploration of  womens pain that  attempts to contain extreme depth but ultimately does little for me. maybe this narrative is simply not made for me in this point in my life, but i strongly felt that i was SUPPOSED to feel the weight of the story. similar to kaurs poetry, the writing convinces the audience that the sentiments expressed are deep and tragic, while actually providing very little emotional reaction.

i kept thinking about how similar the themes are to ‘Fleabag’ but i truly think the show does a much better job at portraying them. the mc in both media are flawed and struggle with similar issues, however fleabag is still likeable. everything she does is unpleasant but the audience sees her pain in themselves, bonding over its effects. the main character in this book is simply upsetting. i understand her actions but they don’t make me see her as a victim of her circumstances, she’s just a shitty person. her behaviour is  consistently illogical and she would benefit from therapy 

maddykris's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nikkiiiii0106's review against another edition

5.0

I'm speechless. It feels as if this book was written for me, to me, and by me. I've never felt so heard in a piece of writing. As if she had transcribed all of my feelings that I was so desperately trying to hide and forever failed to convey in my own words out loud. Disgustingly phenomenal writing, I've never felt so exposed and naked reading.
(DISREGARD THE CHEATING PART-i don't condole cheating of any form :) <333)

edit: tbh this is what I thought Normal People was gonna to do me :\

thewkndwitch's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

macyq's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0