Scan barcode
pmrichard1's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the writing and generally love this kind of book as a deep insight into characters in a short period of time. Just found it almost anxiety inducing at times because of all of how dysfunctional things were between them!
aviarylyssa's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed it, it made me quite emotional, wasn’t super crazy about it though. I wish there was more character development and I think I prefer books that have a bit more of a plot?
baoluong's review against another edition
4.0
one of the most normal relationships i've ever read, maybe that says more about me
As I become older I’ve learned that sometimes relationships end due to very boring reasons. Like you two want to live in different cities. Maybe kids are non-negotiable. Or you just don’t love each other like you used to.
Benson and Mike seem like a stable couple who know each other very throughly. Although, this may be their downfall as they don’t exactly know why they are together anymore. At the start, it was a relationship out of necessity and even passion. But now Mike finds a calling to go back to Japan and confront his abusive father who’s dying of cancer. Benson doesn’t resist and placidly goes along left behind in Texas with Mike’s mother as his new roommate to help cover the rent. The two hardly contact each other throughout and you sometimes forget that this is their journey.
You start to root for Benson to make a stand and finally figure out what he wants in life instead of having other people decide for him. As for Mike, you resent his father but now seeing this old man, you start to forgive him and ultimately forgive yourself for your own anger. It’s a slow decline and the ending is equally anti-climatic. No matter what the two decide, you understand that this is what they think is right because you’ve been inside their heads this whole time. You know their insecurities and what makes them irritated. They’re very fleshed out and complicated.
I personally like their subtle talk about race being that Benson is black and Mike is Japanese. Mike thinks Benson had it slightly easier being born into a middle class family as opposed to being raised by a single mother with an absentee father. Benson thinks Mike had it slightly easier being Asian and not having to deal with as much racial violence in the US. It’s real conversations people have with each other without the pontification and it’s done so well that you feel like you’re eavesdropping on a private conversation. I recommend this book for people who want to slow down.
As I become older I’ve learned that sometimes relationships end due to very boring reasons. Like you two want to live in different cities. Maybe kids are non-negotiable. Or you just don’t love each other like you used to.
Benson and Mike seem like a stable couple who know each other very throughly. Although, this may be their downfall as they don’t exactly know why they are together anymore. At the start, it was a relationship out of necessity and even passion. But now Mike finds a calling to go back to Japan and confront his abusive father who’s dying of cancer. Benson doesn’t resist and placidly goes along left behind in Texas with Mike’s mother as his new roommate to help cover the rent. The two hardly contact each other throughout and you sometimes forget that this is their journey.
You start to root for Benson to make a stand and finally figure out what he wants in life instead of having other people decide for him. As for Mike, you resent his father but now seeing this old man, you start to forgive him and ultimately forgive yourself for your own anger. It’s a slow decline and the ending is equally anti-climatic. No matter what the two decide, you understand that this is what they think is right because you’ve been inside their heads this whole time. You know their insecurities and what makes them irritated. They’re very fleshed out and complicated.
I personally like their subtle talk about race being that Benson is black and Mike is Japanese. Mike thinks Benson had it slightly easier being born into a middle class family as opposed to being raised by a single mother with an absentee father. Benson thinks Mike had it slightly easier being Asian and not having to deal with as much racial violence in the US. It’s real conversations people have with each other without the pontification and it’s done so well that you feel like you’re eavesdropping on a private conversation. I recommend this book for people who want to slow down.
fayestrange's review against another edition
4.0
ok so, this is a reread, and i appreciate it a lot more for sure, a relationship of two people who need to work through a lot of stuff, in my opinion one character tries and one character just works against himself
celtic67's review against another edition
3.0
Review on Ambassador Book Buzz @lovreading.co.uk.
Bertyboy123.
Bertyboy123.
eurekaforsythe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
mxunsmiley's review against another edition
4.0
Halfway through this book, I wasn't sure what to think of it. The characters are messy, and I thought they were unlikeable at first, but they grew on me as I couldn't put the book down. I definitely think the second half was a big triumph over the first, hence the 4 stars. I like that we're left to wonder how Ben and Mike's relationship will end up. All in all, I thought it was very engaging and worth the relative slog of the first half of the book.
basicmeb_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was beautifully raw. Benson and Mike could have been written to be more likeable but that would have completely taken away from the book as a whole. The way the parents are woven into this story is exceptional. Loved this more than I thought I would.
thetinywolf's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0