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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
It's hard to describe how I feel about this book. It was kind of depressing to be honest, but I think it's because it felt so real. The characters seemed like people I actually knew, and I think it's because the situation they were in is so familiar to my generation. It was a little slow moving but I found I appreciated that towards the end, because all the time spent with the characters really enhanced the emotional impact. I think it also helped that I listened to this one (shout out to Audible!) and hearing the two narrators tell their story made me feel like it was me listening to a friend rather than a 3rd party reading experience.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
2008 and Yale graduates Julia and Evan have arrived in New York to start the rest of their lives. Dating throughout college they have decided to live together but whilst Evan has already secured a job in a hedge fund, Julia is unemployed and floundering. Evan is a small-town boy from Canada who is loyal and trusting, he finds that he is drawn into a dodgy scheme by his boss. Julia is a privileged child who has never wanted for anything so it is relatively easy for her to get a job in the arts through family connections. As their relationship is tested by Evan's job and Julia's dissatisfaction, the financial crash puts things into perspective.
I found this book easy to like. It is not a challenging read yet there are big issues touched upon. It is not a simple romantic novel yet there is a lot about love and relationships. It is not a polemic on society yet there are poignant metaphors. It is not a thriller yet there is a real pace to the narrative. I found the characters interesting, there was little that I liked about Julia and I felt empathy for Evan but they work as a couple. All in all it is just a really enjoyable debut novel written by an assured writer.
I found this book easy to like. It is not a challenging read yet there are big issues touched upon. It is not a simple romantic novel yet there is a lot about love and relationships. It is not a polemic on society yet there are poignant metaphors. It is not a thriller yet there is a real pace to the narrative. I found the characters interesting, there was little that I liked about Julia and I felt empathy for Evan but they work as a couple. All in all it is just a really enjoyable debut novel written by an assured writer.
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
This book had some very strong storytelling but I hated Julia, which totally detracted from the book. I'm not sure if you're supposed to like her, but the story opens and closes with her, so I sort of took her to be the heroine of the story. I will say the plot is engaging, and the author does a good job of capturing the looming financial crisis, mirroring it against the characters' angst in a way that amplifies both crises.
Evan was frustrating too but in a way that I found understandable. Yes, he neglected his relationship with Julia, and perhaps some of his small-town values, but I know the feeling of getting swept up in work to the detriment of everything else. Julia was free to leave the relationship at any time, but instead chose to cheat on Evan, somehow justifying its inevitability.
I really wanted to give this book a 4 star rating, but even the hint that Evan and Julia may rekindle their relationship at the end bumped the rating from a 4 to a 3 star. Did I mention I hated Julia?
Evan was frustrating too but in a way that I found understandable. Yes, he neglected his relationship with Julia, and perhaps some of his small-town values, but I know the feeling of getting swept up in work to the detriment of everything else. Julia was free to leave the relationship at any time, but instead chose to cheat on Evan, somehow justifying its inevitability.
I really wanted to give this book a 4 star rating, but even the hint that Evan and Julia may rekindle their relationship at the end bumped the rating from a 4 to a 3 star. Did I mention I hated Julia?
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There was something that kept me captivated even though not much happened. I cannot explain it, but it was there and it was good. Definitely gave me modern Stoner vibes.
omfg i thought the cab hit her but anyways there’s smth about this book…. i feel very hopeful and content with my own life
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
I read this book in one sitting! It's a lovely novel that captures that time in your twenties when you feel yourself changing but desperately cling to the person you once were and the people you once loved. It is a book about New York City, growing up, growing apart and realizing what you really want.