Reviews

U Up? by Catie Disabato

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jcaron43's review

dark emotional funny tense slow-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

The ways in which Eve is messed up, and the many intertwined friendships, romances, minor and major betrayals, all make for a very solid framework for a novel. The plot is managed nicely.

What missed for me was the writing along the way. It's a story of (mostly) ordinary, day-to-day experiences, conversations, drama, worries, told by a mostly ordinary person. This can still provide ample joy for a reader, as long as the writing on each page is lovely. There are some nice parts in this book, but too many dry descriptions of driving to yet another L.A. bar, ordering yet more painstakingly-described drinks, and looking at yet more pretty people who are oblivious to everything we are reading.

Eve's many phone texting threads did a very good job of keeping our focus on the main plotline, while also adding some much-needed continuity in her interactions with people. As for the ghosts, I thought they added colour, but not much else to the story.

nomadreader's review against another edition

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5.0

Fucking brilliant

epic_novella's review

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I really tried forcing myself to get into this book but I just couldn't like it. 24% into the story and I still didn't grasp what's going on and couldn't find the plot interesting at all. I feel guilty for not finishing it and hopefully someday I'll try completing it, but for now I'm letting it go.

canderson's review against another edition

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4.0

This was such an interesting read. First of all, we've all been on one end or another of the "U up?" text, so I was immediately drawn in by the title and the cover. This new adult novel has emotional turmoil, ghosts, meditation, represents multiple characters within the LGBTQIA community, and deals with the suicide of a friend. For those of you who are easily triggered by suicide, this might not be the best book for you—but I thought it addressed the people who are left behind rather beautifully. I appreciated the fact that our main character, Eve, is flawed. I also appreciated that even though she went through a nice character arc where she discovered and addressed those flaws, that she still remains a flawed human with a messy life—a real life.

I liked the setting of LA; and felt that the descriptions of the city, the different bars and streets that our character's wander were authentic. I want to head there right now and wander around from sun up to sun down. This was definitely a novel that felt lived rather than read. I was with Eve as we suffered through a hangover, panic, worry, anger—I walked beside her through the journey of grief and mourning. Definitely recommend this novel to 18+ readers who enjoy a contemporary fiction novel with a smidge of magic and a lot of love.