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rosalux's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Lesbophobia, Sexism, Infidelity, Fatphobia, and Pregnancy
mburdi's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, and Fatphobia
skeltzer's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I realized halfway through that this is the comedy cousin to The Year of Magical Thinking. This is a very upper middle class story with associated humor and puchlines (everyone has a maid; everyone sleeping with everyone else) with dated references and cringeworthy passages (peep the content warnings). I do like the recipes sprinkled through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Classism, Body shaming, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, and Fatphobia
tracikennedy25's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Fatphobia, and Racial slurs
revafisheye's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
A few weeks ago, I watched the HBO doc "Everything Is Copy," made by Nora Ephron's son and featuring so many of her famous friends, singing her praises -- mostly. So here I am, surprised that this is my first time reading Nora Ephron after a lifetime of watching her movies. Turns out, her voice was one that I knew very well.
This book feels like time capsule of 1980s pop culture tropes: an autobiographical rich -- but not too rich -- New York professional woman is "trying to have it all." What she gets instead is a philandering journalist husband, an analyst who takes sides with her husband, and encounters with the cuckolded politico husband of the other woman. And she gives the reader self-deprecating humor, recipes, and thinly veiled fatphobia (yes, I did that) and light '80s racism. The audiobook is narrated by Meryl Streep, which makes it mostly go down easy.
I'm no scholar an on the genre, but did THIS book mark the birth of chick lit? I imagine NOT growing up on a diet of these stories might have made this one seem fresh and revelatory, but after 40 years of Sallys and Carries and Bridgets and Julies, this character (I've already forgotten) and her story seem stale and, to her great pleasure I'm sure, thin.
This book feels like time capsule of 1980s pop culture tropes: an autobiographical rich -- but not too rich -- New York professional woman is "trying to have it all." What she gets instead is
I'm no scholar an on the genre, but did THIS book mark the birth of chick lit? I imagine NOT growing up on a diet of these stories might have made this one seem fresh and revelatory, but after 40 years of Sallys and Carries and Bridgets and Julies, this character (I've already forgotten) and her story seem stale and, to her great pleasure I'm sure, thin.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia and Racism
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