avajanewm's review
5.0
it’s giving when harry met sally, i hope i can re-read this if im ever in boston :)
hannah1734's review
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
nyailrac's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.25
emily_y's review
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Homophobia
Minor: Abortion, Antisemitism, and Vomit
fayeromero's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
letmetakea_shelfie_'s review
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
emreads97's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jedbird's review against another edition
4.0
This story about a pair of game designers in the 90s is (mostly) a lot of fun. Sadie and Sam meet at age 12 - Sam is a patient in a hospital following a car accident, and Sadie is at the hospital to see her cancer patient sister. They strike up a friendship around playing video games, and years later they form a partnership to create video games. There is a third party in their partnership, Marx, Sam's Harvard roommate, who serves as producer. Marx is an absolute cinnamon roll, but Sam and Sadie are kind of dicks. Still, the games they create sound interesting and fun to play.
While I enjoyed this, and read it in a day, I can't imagine rereading it or recommending it - except for the game descriptions. It has some significant flaws. The story takes place over about 25 years, and Sam and Sadie have virtually no character development over that time. In fact, they seem less mature as 30-somethings than as 12-year-olds. There is a Major Event that will be upsetting to most readers, and I don't really think it added anything except anguish to the story.
If you're interested in video games and their creation, this gives a superficial but interesting overview of that.
While I enjoyed this, and read it in a day, I can't imagine rereading it or recommending it - except for the game descriptions. It has some significant flaws. The story takes place over about 25 years, and Sam and Sadie have virtually no character development over that time. In fact, they seem less mature as 30-somethings than as 12-year-olds. There is a Major Event that will be upsetting to most readers, and I don't really think it added anything except anguish to the story.
If you're interested in video games and their creation, this gives a superficial but interesting overview of that.
margot's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
in the most positive way 🫶 devastating & wishing for death 🫶
ceeceejade's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Normal People + video games = Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow