Scan barcode
cat_brewsandreviews's review against another edition
4.0
I accidentally read the last 90% of this in one go. There were so many relatable situations and feelings in this book that I cried a few times. I'm really glad I read this; my only gripe is that the spinster club meetings came off a tiny bit preachy to me.
natclaire92's review against another edition
4.0
This book made me sob like a baby, it was just so hard to read what Evie was going through on a daily basis, to see how difficult it would be to live with. You could feel her emotions so clearly, and it was a brutally honesty look at mental health. I loved that there was no real HEA with this book, because that's not how life is, and it's not how life is with a mental illness. I loved that a boy didn't come along and magically "cure" her and that having friends didn't "cure" her either. I think some people think that if you have friends or a boy/girlfriend, you won't have mental illness anymore which is just ridiculous.
I loved the friendship in here, and all the discussion on feminism. I'm 24, so a lot of it wasn't exactly new to me, but I appreciate it so much for younger teen readers if this is the first time they've come across feminism or an insight into mental health.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because sometimes I felt like Evie was saying that if she was "normal", her life would be perfect and that isn't true. With all the wonderful advocacy that's going on with mental health issues, the raising awareness and call-outs over harmful stigmas, sometimes it can stray into the territory (just slightly) of saying that mental health makes you special, or that if you're neurotypical (which I've seen used in a derogative way on Tumblr) you have no problems, and again, that's not true. You can be "normal" and still have horrible things to deal with. There's no perfect state of being. Being beautiful and rich and neurotypical doesn't always mean you're happy, and being afflicted by mental or physical illness doesn't mean you're always unhappy either. I like that her therapist tried to make her see this, but I'm not sure Evie really took it all in.
Also I felt like sometimes Evie was just the tiniest bit self-absorbed. Yes, she was going through a huge amount, and it wasn't her fault. If you have an illness that makes you think the world is out to get you, it's understandable to be a little self-absorbed, and to see the world through one particular lens. She did acknowledge that though, which I appreciated. It was just a little bit frustrating at times.
Lastly, I want more! In one way, as I mentioned before, I'm glad there was no HEA, I'm glad everything wasn't all neatly tied up in the end, but I also wish things had been a little more closed. I know there are sequels, but it follows Amber and Lottie. Hopefully we'll find out a bit more about the aftermath.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this book, and really appreciate that it exists. Teenagers (and people in general) who have mental illnesses need to see themselves in print, and I think this book will help a lot of people, and will help "normal" people empathise with people who might have conditions like Evie's. I couldn't put it down, I finished it in around two sittings. Would highly recommend, and am looking forward to reading the sequels.
I loved the friendship in here, and all the discussion on feminism. I'm 24, so a lot of it wasn't exactly new to me, but I appreciate it so much for younger teen readers if this is the first time they've come across feminism or an insight into mental health.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because sometimes I felt like Evie was saying that if she was "normal", her life would be perfect and that isn't true. With all the wonderful advocacy that's going on with mental health issues, the raising awareness and call-outs over harmful stigmas, sometimes it can stray into the territory (just slightly) of saying that mental health makes you special, or that if you're neurotypical (which I've seen used in a derogative way on Tumblr) you have no problems, and again, that's not true. You can be "normal" and still have horrible things to deal with. There's no perfect state of being. Being beautiful and rich and neurotypical doesn't always mean you're happy, and being afflicted by mental or physical illness doesn't mean you're always unhappy either. I like that her therapist tried to make her see this, but I'm not sure Evie really took it all in.
Also I felt like sometimes Evie was just the tiniest bit self-absorbed. Yes, she was going through a huge amount, and it wasn't her fault. If you have an illness that makes you think the world is out to get you, it's understandable to be a little self-absorbed, and to see the world through one particular lens. She did acknowledge that though, which I appreciated. It was just a little bit frustrating at times.
Lastly, I want more! In one way, as I mentioned before, I'm glad there was no HEA, I'm glad everything wasn't all neatly tied up in the end, but I also wish things had been a little more closed. I know there are sequels, but it follows Amber and Lottie. Hopefully we'll find out a bit more about the aftermath.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this book, and really appreciate that it exists. Teenagers (and people in general) who have mental illnesses need to see themselves in print, and I think this book will help a lot of people, and will help "normal" people empathise with people who might have conditions like Evie's. I couldn't put it down, I finished it in around two sittings. Would highly recommend, and am looking forward to reading the sequels.
lilyreadsandposts's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
This book was good and much better than what I was expecting. I could see a lot of myself in the main character.
The plot was good, as was the pacing, but I did find myself cringing at some of the main character's decisions. I understood why she made them but I was still swearing at the book, hoping she wouldn't make the wrong choice!
The dialogue was a bit cringy and took me out of the book at times. That is my main complaint with this one. But after reading How Hard Can Love Be, the second in the series, I can say that the dialogue does get a lot better!
Thank you Holly Bourne, for this amazing rep.
This book was good and much better than what I was expecting. I could see a lot of myself in the main character.
The plot was good, as was the pacing, but I did find myself cringing at some of the main character's decisions. I understood why she made them but I was still swearing at the book, hoping she wouldn't make the wrong choice!
The dialogue was a bit cringy and took me out of the book at times. That is my main complaint with this one. But after reading How Hard Can Love Be, the second in the series, I can say that the dialogue does get a lot better!
Thank you Holly Bourne, for this amazing rep.
milliexxreads's review against another edition
5.0
Wow so beautiful!
I am sobbing literally and it is 2 am
flutteringbutterflies's review against another edition
4.0
A bit preachy in parts and it felt jarring that there aren't any POC/LGBT characters but I enjoyed it.
summerofchels's review against another edition
4.0
This was so great. The perfect amount of fun and seriousness and I loved it so much. Can't wait to carry on and see what the future holds for the Spinsters!
fernlove's review against another edition
2.0
not the sort of book I tend to read, but it was given to me as part of a reading club.
I think its for a slightly younger demographic to my age
It was an ok read but I doubt I will be rushing to read the next instalment
I think its for a slightly younger demographic to my age
It was an ok read but I doubt I will be rushing to read the next instalment