Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

27 reviews

jaja_1212's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I picked up this book hoping for a heartwarming contemporary read for comfort and it was exactly that and more. I was quite pleasantly surprised how the author managed to balance just the right amount of emotional topics and moments, just the right dose of "kitsch" without overdoing it. The multiple POVs were well done, as was the pacing (sometimes reading more than 2 or 3 characters' POVs can feel like it's slowing down and dragging the story, which was not the case here). 
While I really enjoyed the characters and following their bonds forming, I would have preferred Bea's character to be more fleshed out than having a supporting character role. It seemed/felt like she was used as a bit of a device to make the Ionas character look good and to have more struggles for her character to work with. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Stalking, Gaslighting, Medical content, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Hate crime

atamano's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Classism, Body shaming, Bullying, Misogyny, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Cancer, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity

bookcasey's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Cancer, Homophobia, and Medical content

caitlinjadams's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? No

4.75

This was a slow start for me, but I grew to care deeply about the stories of the ensemble of commuters and I rarely put it down through the end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Dementia, Bullying, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Stalking, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Blood, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, and Injury/Injury detail

brittany_jean's review

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

As a former train-commuter, this book captures the experience of daily train riding so perfectly. I loved it! There are a few typos but the story is so great I still read it in 2 days. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Cancer

Minor: Cursing, Suicide attempt, Dementia, Bullying, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime

purplepenning's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Bullying

Moderate: Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Classism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, and Cancer

Minor: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Animal death, and Death of parent

what_heather_loves's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.0

"The faces surrounding Piers all wore various shades of glum. It occurred to him that they were each individual spokes of a wheel, but Iona was the centre, the axis, and without her, the group of them had no purpose at all, and very little in common."

Present day London and formidable, middle-aged, 'magazine therapist' (agony aunt) Iona travels by train for work. Despite her years of experience, eccentric Iona she is bullied at work by younger colleagues for being 'a dinosaur', so she decides to enlist the help of regular train passengers (whom she has given funny names, like 'Smart-but-sexist-Surbiton') after one of them has a near death experience in their carriage one day. With nothing in common but their commute, they begin to get to know one another. Meeting nurse Sanjay, PR advisor Emmie, school pupil Martha, banker Piers and solicitor David opens each of their eyes to their assumptions about one another. All of them are struggling with imposter syndrome and all of them turn to inspiring Iona for help. Will she turn to them when she needs help too?

As with The Authenticity Project, this is a wonderfully uplifting novel about the power of friendship and community when times are tough. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of the characters through their perspectives (although I was concerned Iona's wife Bea didn't have her own narrative). All of the main characters are well drawn, with their own lives and Iona, in particular will stay with me #WhatWouldIonaDo This is a warm, funny and poignant tale that makes for a great read.

"'When I'm feeling unsure about anything,' said Martha, 'I just ask myself, what would Iona do?' 'Me too,' said David. 'Who'd have thought I'd end up basing my life choices on an eccentric lesbian? But it seems to work.'"

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

Minor: Lesbophobia and Suicide attempt