Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
This book is like if The Ministry of Time and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow had a love child
challenging
dark
reflective
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I read the blurb, I expected this to be more focused on virtual reality rotting the brain of moderators than a second-generation immigrant dealing with the complexity of family ties and guilt while connecting with a stoic British immigrant who happens to be her boss, but I'm not mad about it.
If I had to create a spectrum of the kind of POC characters I enjoy, Girlie would be on the high end, with characters from most romances who are POC but could absolutely be swapped out for a white person with nothing about them or their role in the book changing. Girlie (not her real name, but works for her work and life) is the eldest daughter in her generation and stuck between all the younger cousins and her Pinoy immigrant elders. She's beautiful and knows, but views it dispassionately as a fact of life that she must deal with while navigating familial guilt, repressed trauma at losing her investments and house payments, and dodging various exes (she's bi) while retaining them for connections.
Girlie works as a content moderator for a massive social site and has avoided burning out and the psychological toll it takes on her coworkers for about fifteen years and running, while doing an exceptional job by any metric. As a result, she's offered a ridiculously well-paying job moderating content in a VR "playground" by a mysterious British man named William Cheung. My favourite parts of this book were the guarded but magnetic interactions between William and Girlie as they verbally spar, jab, and finally come to understand each other a bit better (as things continue to happen in this exclusive and futuristic VR space they are moderating).
I love characters with rich inner worlds who navigate complex interpersonal politics with people they love and are wary of equally carefully. Girlie is exactly that kind of character and while this book has less VR stuff at the fore than I expected, it's still a solid read.
If I had to create a spectrum of the kind of POC characters I enjoy, Girlie would be on the high end, with characters from most romances who are POC but could absolutely be swapped out for a white person with nothing about them or their role in the book changing. Girlie (not her real name, but works for her work and life) is the eldest daughter in her generation and stuck between all the younger cousins and her Pinoy immigrant elders. She's beautiful and knows, but views it dispassionately as a fact of life that she must deal with while navigating familial guilt, repressed trauma at losing her investments and house payments, and dodging various exes (she's bi) while retaining them for connections.
Girlie works as a content moderator for a massive social site and has avoided burning out and the psychological toll it takes on her coworkers for about fifteen years and running, while doing an exceptional job by any metric. As a result, she's offered a ridiculously well-paying job moderating content in a VR "playground" by a mysterious British man named William Cheung. My favourite parts of this book were the guarded but magnetic interactions between William and Girlie as they verbally spar, jab, and finally come to understand each other a bit better (as things continue to happen in this exclusive and futuristic VR space they are moderating).
I love characters with rich inner worlds who navigate complex interpersonal politics with people they love and are wary of equally carefully. Girlie is exactly that kind of character and while this book has less VR stuff at the fore than I expected, it's still a solid read.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I can see the appeal, but I think this book was not for me.
dark
funny
reflective
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:
Complicated
Castillo’s new novel is a mindf*** and will have you questioning everything you think you know. “Girlie” works for a shady tech company as a moderator to a next gen VR playground where all the lines, including that between her and her handsome boss, become blurred. Though toted as a love story, it feels more like a Rorschach test where the reader can see a story about love, filial piety, complacency, trauma and healing, or the dangers of tech — depending on what they’re in the mood for.
Sourced: @belcantobooks ARC Club
Sourced: @belcantobooks ARC Club