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A review by akshaya07
Astrid Sees All by Natalie Standiford
4.0
"New York isn't going anywhere, she said.
She was mistaken: New York is always charging forward and threatening to leave you behind. It is going somewhere, always".
One thing to know about me is that if there is a book and the story takes place in New York, I am sold. I will read it, nevertheless, despite knowing the story. Adding to that 80s or 90s New York vibes? Okay, no more questions. Just give the book, that's all. And that is exactly the reason why this book was added to my TBR.
Astrid Sees All follows the typical glamorous lives in New York City, juggling to earn money to keep up with the luxury side that the city demands amidst the sex, drugs, politics, culture and celebrities. The story follows Phoebe and Carmen, two friends in their early twenties, one from Baltimore and the other from a rich, well-known family of celebrities. Even though the story revolves around many things that life in New York offers, it is more of this recollection of Phoebe about Carmen, whom she loves and admires and wants to be like. And due to this notion, Phoebe often leads a life being a shadow to Carmen, so there is this exploration of complicated female friendships and how sometimes people cope with grief differently. Phoebe has lost her dad recently and is still mourning his death without coming to terms with it. She copes with this through an unhealthy lifestyle trying to be someone else. Therefore, the main character is unreliable and unlikeable.
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. The writing kept me hooked, and I was thrilled to pick it up and continue with the book whenever possible. There was also a mystery involved towards the end, which I never expected, and it went in a different direction than I anticipated, but I didn't hate it. This book reminded me of Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados due to the mention of clubs and glamorous parties and Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney because of the complex female friendship that the main lead has with her friend.
Overall I really enjoyed it. I know this is this author's first adult novel (if I am not wrong), but if she comes with more in the future, I want to check them out for sure. This one is not for everyone, but it is super underrated, and I wish more people who will love this kind of book gets to read it.
She was mistaken: New York is always charging forward and threatening to leave you behind. It is going somewhere, always".
One thing to know about me is that if there is a book and the story takes place in New York, I am sold. I will read it, nevertheless, despite knowing the story. Adding to that 80s or 90s New York vibes? Okay, no more questions. Just give the book, that's all. And that is exactly the reason why this book was added to my TBR.
Astrid Sees All follows the typical glamorous lives in New York City, juggling to earn money to keep up with the luxury side that the city demands amidst the sex, drugs, politics, culture and celebrities. The story follows Phoebe and Carmen, two friends in their early twenties, one from Baltimore and the other from a rich, well-known family of celebrities. Even though the story revolves around many things that life in New York offers, it is more of this recollection of Phoebe about Carmen, whom she loves and admires and wants to be like. And due to this notion, Phoebe often leads a life being a shadow to Carmen, so there is this exploration of complicated female friendships and how sometimes people cope with grief differently. Phoebe has lost her dad recently and is still mourning his death without coming to terms with it. She copes with this through an unhealthy lifestyle trying to be someone else. Therefore, the main character is unreliable and unlikeable.
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. The writing kept me hooked, and I was thrilled to pick it up and continue with the book whenever possible. There was also a mystery involved towards the end, which I never expected, and it went in a different direction than I anticipated, but I didn't hate it. This book reminded me of Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados due to the mention of clubs and glamorous parties and Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney because of the complex female friendship that the main lead has with her friend.
Overall I really enjoyed it. I know this is this author's first adult novel (if I am not wrong), but if she comes with more in the future, I want to check them out for sure. This one is not for everyone, but it is super underrated, and I wish more people who will love this kind of book gets to read it.