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debamame's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
chatcha31's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
3.0
The Charmed Life of Alex Moore was very nearly a DNF. Alex is the epitome of Shoreditch hipster, with a start-up that doesn't seem to actually do anything (it's a glorified forum and blog) and she genuinely believes all the hype she comes up with. I agree with her fiancé that she is indeed in danger of disappearing up her own backside.
I was struggling to decide if this was satire or if we are meant to like this world, however Alex being like this turns out to be relevant to the whole story. Her friends and family believe she's not the same person she used to be. New Alex thinks old Alex was a loser, and she even has bouts of vertigo whenever she thinks about her old life.
Then things get weird, I like weird. When Alex is invited to partake in some research on a remote Orkney island, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity to find herself and prove to Harry that she can take a break from the business. Instead she finds a strange group of people intent of finding the truth about the day she woke up with a new outlook on life and started Eudomon.
I won't reveal what secret is hiding in the Orkney Islands but it was worth slogging through the beginning and I enjoyed the rest of the book. It explores the idea of destiny and whether or not can change your path in life. Certain events shape our very being, for better for worse. What would life be like if we weren't weighed down by the past? Sometimes we just need a nudge in the right direction...
I scanned over a few other reviews and it does appear to be a bit of a Marmite book. Some people liked it up until the weird part, which just shows how different we all are as readers. For me, it was crucial that it starts off with the exploding mystery man as I kept reading long enough to find out what the connection was.
Review copy provided by publisher.
I was struggling to decide if this was satire or if we are meant to like this world, however Alex being like this turns out to be relevant to the whole story. Her friends and family believe she's not the same person she used to be. New Alex thinks old Alex was a loser, and she even has bouts of vertigo whenever she thinks about her old life.
Then things get weird, I like weird. When Alex is invited to partake in some research on a remote Orkney island, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity to find herself and prove to Harry that she can take a break from the business. Instead she finds a strange group of people intent of finding the truth about the day she woke up with a new outlook on life and started Eudomon.
I won't reveal what secret is hiding in the Orkney Islands but it was worth slogging through the beginning and I enjoyed the rest of the book. It explores the idea of destiny and whether or not can change your path in life. Certain events shape our very being, for better for worse. What would life be like if we weren't weighed down by the past? Sometimes we just need a nudge in the right direction...
I scanned over a few other reviews and it does appear to be a bit of a Marmite book. Some people liked it up until the weird part, which just shows how different we all are as readers. For me, it was crucial that it starts off with the exploding mystery man as I kept reading long enough to find out what the connection was.
Review copy provided by publisher.
gemmamilne's review against another edition
4.0
I was enjoying this book - I thought the way Molly Flatt captured the tech startup scene was hilariously spot on, and the science fiction elements were fascinating - my only complaint was that I really hated the ending!! (Sorry!) I felt it was a bit abrupt and parts of it came out of nowhere, which was a real shame as the rest had been so meticulously crafted and built up. Would still recommend to read though as I was left thinking about it for sure.
lucirebecca's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
2.0
Starting off as a light comedy set in the zeitgeist of the tech world and about a London hipster this book was OK. I liked the idea that Dorothy woke up one morning and became Alex - the duckling to the swan. I disliked just about everything else from then on. Unfortunately this was a book I skim read as I really did not enjoy it - possibly I'm too old to get it!
luce23's review against another edition
4.0
Such a unique story that follows the story of someone experiencing a massive change and how it rattles those around them. What you don’t know is that the new Alex is the result of an experiment gone wrong. Her memories have been altered at the core and the new Alex is more confident more reckless and altogether more. The story follows as she tries to save an island while trying to save her love life at the same time.
foulone's review against another edition
4.0
I was loving this book until the last 5% or so. Why did it have to become a love story at the last second, invalidating her actions as done for herself because she was strong? Why her and Finn? Why the random, jarring sex scene? Why her and Finn? How did she get pregnant (by the book’s own logic this was impossible)? What happens to Harry and her family now she’s abandoned them? How did she get her memory back? Why her and Finn? WHY WHY WHY???
drannieg's review against another edition
2.0
Odd. Not terrible, and 75% of it is really interesting and compelling, and then.... it goes flat, with a sudden set of love interest baloney, some utterly random sex and a rather rushed ending. Concept rather brilliant, writing reasonable (for a debut) but the last few chapters just felt a bit of a let down. Wd read more of Flatt, though, it certainly was pacey until it went weird.
melzrox's review against another edition
1.0
This book was endless, made no sense and the ending was terrible