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samarakroeger's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
i'm a fan .... of this book even though it took me nearly a year to finish it! really i read the first half right after i got it last spring and then kinda forgot i hadn't finished it. oh well. very messy, very funny, short chapters ... it's great! features the best chapter titles i've ever seen, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Classism
siobhanward's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This one wasn't for me. I think I'm just too old for this now - I just see a troubled woman who would be incredibly hard to be around, much less be friends with. It felt like nothing happened, while still feeling endless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
nats_world23's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Stalking
joduewekeperez's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Addiction, and Emotional abuse
nicilaui's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is so multi-dimensional and yet so simply limited to one voice that I often had to re-read paragraphs to put everything into perspective. This novel is utterly honest with a macabre brutality in how a person can lose themselves in a toxic relationship while behaving toxic too. Patel has also incorporated an incredible amount of socio-critical approaches, such as racism, sexism and the fake nature of social media. The protagonist stays in those harmful structures even though she knows them inside out. Patel wrote this paradoxical mechanism in such a unique way that it makes this novel extraordinary. You also learn a lot about the creative industry and about art itself. There is no real structure to the often extremely short chapters. You should just go with the flow and not expect anything. This is not a usual reading experience causing why this book may not be for everyone. I personally didn’t like the ending so sadly no 5 stars. This has nothing to do with the quality of the book, it’s just a personal down grade.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Misogyny, Bullying, Gaslighting, Stalking, and Cultural appropriation
lena04's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Stalking
zenaaqilla's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This nameless main character woman in her 30s is one of the most fun characters for me to follow. It's so painful and bleak at times to a point that it made me LOL. Genuinely concerned for the main character but her careless choices made it fun for the plot (if there was one).
I love how its written in such short chapters that mimics her obsessive behavior and it makes us wonder more and more as we jump from one chapter to another. It also touched on a lot of important issues such as race, gender, and class as well is how it played out in a setting of modern 'romance' and social media.
LOVE this book! Definitely one to remember and I can't believe this was a debut novel? Can't wait for her future releases 🤍
I love how its written in such short chapters that mimics her obsessive behavior and it makes us wonder more and more as we jump from one chapter to another. It also touched on a lot of important issues such as race, gender, and class as well is how it played out in a setting of modern 'romance' and social media.
LOVE this book! Definitely one to remember and I can't believe this was a debut novel? Can't wait for her future releases 🤍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Misogyny and Toxic relationship
taliaalongi's review against another edition
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Pretty unhinged but good racial, gender, and class commentary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
novi's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Some (a lot of?) reviewers said that the protagonist was unlikable and you disagree with her but then she said things that you really agree with, but in my perspective, that's a pious statement lol. So this book is kinda has 2 parts: one about this girl's life (her infidelity and obsession towards this man and this man's other mistress) and one about her (SHARP) thoughts on whiteness from her point of view as a POC. So you know which one you're supposed to agree with and which one you're not. But for me it's not as simple as that bc 1) both parts are interwoven: in structure of this book and in the mind of a complex character; 2) the protagonist was very aware of what she did (her cheating and obsession) were not healthy, it almost felt like what's written on this book is her reflection after everything already happened and now she's not doing all that anymore. So, idk. I sometimes relate to her obsession and posessiveness too, I think it's human and animalistic at the same time, which i feel for time to time but I don't always act on it. So. Sue me. So i think it makes this book feel raw, in that sense.
That aside, i love the writing. This book has basically no plot, but i enjoyed the journey. I underlined SO much. Her criticism about white supremacy, patriarchy, influencer and wellness culture were sharp, witty, and refreshing. Would love to read more from this author.
That aside, i love the writing. This book has basically no plot, but i enjoyed the journey. I underlined SO much. Her criticism about white supremacy, patriarchy, influencer and wellness culture were sharp, witty, and refreshing. Would love to read more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Stalking
ky_sar_'s review against another edition
Narrator in unhealthy mindset, lots of infidelity, not feel good in any way
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Infidelity