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duffrunstough's review
2.0
I received and Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I really tried to like this novel; however, I could not get behind it. With the NetGalley description comparing this to Normal People and Sweetbitter, I was expecting this to be the next best Contemporary Fiction novel - unfortunately, the story really fell flat. If it wasn't for Roberts composition and use of imagery compelling me to continue reading on, this novel would have become my first DNF. The main character, Charlie Green, wasn't entirely unlikeable; but he is the 1980s version of a "Sad Boy." On top of the "Sad Boy" personality, Green comes with multiple red flags that a 15-year old me would have ignored; but makes a 27-year old me cringe.
Green, a hopeless romantic and inspiring writer, is determined to fall in love with a beautiful "light-eyed girl" (flag one) once he starts college. Before that though, he cheats on his current "brown-eyed" girlfriend by kissing a fellow counselor at "Fat Camp" (flag two) and only plans on telling his girlfriend until after he loses his virginity to her (flag three). Oh, and his grand plan for getting his girlfriend to sleep with him - getting her drunk on champagne so she will say yes (flag four). He then gets mad when his girlfriend would rather continue partying at a downtown loft of some Yuppies (or Haircuts, as Charlie Green calls them) instead of sleep with him, and leaves her on her own to go home (flag five).
The novel gets slightly better once Charlie finally makes it to college (after the fatphobia, internalized anti-Semitism, an rape culture of the beginning). However, I still find myself rooting the whole time for the story not to end up well for Charlie and would get upset when the other characters would continue to support his decisions. This novel was just about everything that the movie "Promising Young Women" and director Emerald Fennell wanted to warn us about.
Overall, I still give this novel 2/5 stars. Clearly, I am not the demographic of this novel, The writing was what really saved this novel; and I could see this becoming an excellent biopic.
I really tried to like this novel; however, I could not get behind it. With the NetGalley description comparing this to Normal People and Sweetbitter, I was expecting this to be the next best Contemporary Fiction novel - unfortunately, the story really fell flat. If it wasn't for Roberts composition and use of imagery compelling me to continue reading on, this novel would have become my first DNF. The main character, Charlie Green, wasn't entirely unlikeable; but he is the 1980s version of a "Sad Boy." On top of the "Sad Boy" personality, Green comes with multiple red flags that a 15-year old me would have ignored; but makes a 27-year old me cringe.
Green, a hopeless romantic and inspiring writer, is determined to fall in love with a beautiful "light-eyed girl" (flag one) once he starts college. Before that though, he cheats on his current "brown-eyed" girlfriend by kissing a fellow counselor at "Fat Camp" (flag two) and only plans on telling his girlfriend until after he loses his virginity to her (flag three). Oh, and his grand plan for getting his girlfriend to sleep with him - getting her drunk on champagne so she will say yes (flag four). He then gets mad when his girlfriend would rather continue partying at a downtown loft of some Yuppies (or Haircuts, as Charlie Green calls them) instead of sleep with him, and leaves her on her own to go home (flag five).
The novel gets slightly better once Charlie finally makes it to college (after the fatphobia, internalized anti-Semitism, an rape culture of the beginning). However, I still find myself rooting the whole time for the story not to end up well for Charlie and would get upset when the other characters would continue to support his decisions. This novel was just about everything that the movie "Promising Young Women" and director Emerald Fennell wanted to warn us about.
Overall, I still give this novel 2/5 stars. Clearly, I am not the demographic of this novel, The writing was what really saved this novel; and I could see this becoming an excellent biopic.
spestock's review
3.0
A well-written book, and I was surprised by how much I found myself pulling for those two crazy kids to work things out. I will admit to being a little suspicious of how every woman was beautiful, and they were all head-over-heels for Charlie. I think having at least one young lady immune to his charms (I mean, even his guidance counselor seemed to have fallen in love with him!?) would have made the rest a bit more palatable.
authorjulietrose's review
4.0
I enjoyed the flow of the story even though it was heavy on dialogue that didn't necessarily move the story along. I could see this being made into a play or even an Indie flick. I felt it was more of a character study than a plot drive story and the main character lacked introspection, making it hard to relate to his struggles. However, I enjoyed the story and felt it was pretty accurate on how an 18-year-old guy leaving home sees the world around him! I can see the comparison to The Catcher in the Rye for sure.
mellyfish's review
1.0
I found the author’s voice to be quite engaging, I liked reading what he had to say about New York, Philadelphia and New Hope. That said I couldn’t find much to like about Charlie Green, the main character. I can’t figure out if he was intentionally shooting for a Holden Caulfield vibe or if it was purely that he just coincidentally wrote an ignorant, largely unsympathetic character. I know nothing about this author, so it would be unfair to call them a misogynist, but it wouldn’t be far from the mark. Charlie drinks till he gets drunk pretty much every day even though he’s not of a legal age to do so, but also has a lot of judgy bullshit to say about his mother doing the same thing. Also when he makes horrible decisions, he miraculously is supported by everyone, regardless of his actions or motives. He betrays every single woman in this book, and yet somewhere out there, I guarantee someone is going to read this and call it romance. Boooo.
So if you click on the author to find out more about the person who wrote this, you’ll find a weird mishmash of self help and children’s books and no information. Is this a ghost writer profile? A social experiment? Bizarre.
So if you click on the author to find out more about the person who wrote this, you’ll find a weird mishmash of self help and children’s books and no information. Is this a ghost writer profile? A social experiment? Bizarre.
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