Reviews

Welcome to the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan

rice83's review

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

amc70's review

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Overall a fun read about a private school in a gorgeous setting. While the disparity between public vs private education did not sit well with me, I totally get that that is the way things are currently. While I also understand that teenaged girls can be mean, the bullying and fat shaming/fat phobic comments were also difficult to read, and some of the adult characters were guilty of the latter as well. All of this being said, middle and high school are difficult ages and places to be and Colgan catches those feelings well in this short novel. 

mixedgirlreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

justbooks46's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

couldabeen05's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lolalu's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

joanasimao's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Pains me to write this as I've loved all the Jenny Coogan books I've read before but this one was just extremely basic not to mention extremely problematic. See TW. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bookishnan's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

chertudi's review

Go to review page

1.0

My least favorite Jenny Colgan ever, so much fat-phobia and fat shaming! I can’t get over how awfully she described and treated Simone’s character.

I usually love her books but WTF?

abriggs07's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It was okay, but I’ll probably read the next one!