Reviews

Temporary by Hilary Leichter

thefatspicegirl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny fast-paced

3.0

this is an absurdist critique of capitalism, and though i found it witty, humorous, and heartfelt during certain moments, i also feel like the writing and plot was so pretentious at times that i feel like i'm not smart enough to fully "get it." i've never felt that way about a book really. i appreciate it for what it is though & i am glad i read it. ultimately a quirky little book that i can't quite figure out. maybe you're not supposed to.

nbpamies's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

hbrxnnxmxn's review

adventurous funny reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

I would love to see this book get adapted into an animated series - the plot was incredibly engaging and the depiction of the world is surprisingly elaborate for such a short period of time. I really enjoyed how magical realism was used and will continue to think about the messages!

bijant's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.25

chloejoy's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

andy_acid's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

Books that are comically dark, whimsically surreal, and sometimes strangely wholesome are currently my vibe, so it fits the bill. Even if at first the plot seems aimless, it ultimately wraps up quite nicely.

scottyreadsstuff's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Pretentious absurdism that I read at the perfect time in my life as a new freelance worker, I loved Temporary! 💼💛

raphou's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

meganoh's review against another edition

4.0

An absurdist novel that follows a woman’s quest to find her “permanent job” as she navigates ridiculous temp jobs, set in a world best described as a caricature of job culture in late-stage capitalism. I really liked the premise of the book, which had the potential to ask questions about how our jobs may feed into our identity, purpose, and relationships. The absurdity of the situations and jobs she's assigned provoked both humour and reflection. However, the narrative felt disjointed at times, and I couldn’t properly engage with what exactly the author was trying to highlight.

raleyr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

Wow. Just absolutely obsessed. A fever dream with deep prose scattered throughout.