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rly's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
ruba0327's review against another edition
3.0
This is essentially a book about grief. Grief over a neglectful childhood, being sexually manipulated/abused at a young age, a lack of loving relationships in adulthood, death of a sibling, and grief over caring for aging parents. The main character makes terrible choices which makes it hard to find her likeable. But if you see these choices through the lens of grief, you can have empathy for her. Setting the story during a summer in Italy added a lot of atmosphere to the story. A dark tale with no happy endings, but I'm still thinking about it - worth a read.
kjf's review against another edition
2.0
Can't say I enjoyed this one. I prefer my novels to be a little more "cerebral" and I found the writing juvenile, the characters and setting descriptions incredibly cliché. The novel fails at "show don't tell" throughout until it disposes of one of the central characters with him literally...jumping into the Adriatic? And the next section it's his funeral, with no further explanation. Had a laugh at the ridiculousness, when I think I was meant to feel devastated.
When a novel is only 204 pages long I'm expecting a tight and affecting story. This book didn't deliver and there is absolutely no urgency for anyone to pick up this book.
When a novel is only 204 pages long I'm expecting a tight and affecting story. This book didn't deliver and there is absolutely no urgency for anyone to pick up this book.
ellensears's review against another edition
4.0
such a flowing read, only 2oo pages but the characters were so well formed in a small amount of time, also how mortifying for everyone to know about dorito...okay lets stop being sexual creatures with people out of our age zone!!
sierramc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lindsaykh's review against another edition
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
2.75