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A review by akarently
The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley
3.75
This book was fine! I don't know why I'm yelling that.
It's a book that's supposed to be a cozy, quirky, easy read focusing on a unlikely friendship and cross-country mystery (and a head nod to Thelma and Louise), and it mostly is. We have the intergenerational (eventual) friendship of Tanner, a 21-year-old ex-soccer star (due to an injury) turned disillusioned gamer, and Louise, an 84-year-old crossword aficionado with a taste for vodka and secrets. Louise is portrayed as sharp as a tack and hiding more than just a limp. Tanner is furious at the world but quietly desperate for purpose (and her best friend from college, which I never felt fully resolved on).
So, I think I liked Louise and would probably read a prequel about HER wild younger years. Tanner, though, was unfortunately mostly boring and frustrating. I didn’t find her relatable or endearing, and her privilege was grating. Dropping out of Northwestern over $10,000? That whole plotline felt flimsy. She has one year left, and don't they give out student loans like hotcakes? Or transfer to another school in Atlanta that's not the community college that she seems to loathe (which also, did that make sense? I thought she had 1 year left)? The logistics felt lacking. Also, not for nothing, but would she really even have loved her last year? She wouldn't have been able to play soccer and unfortunately her dynamic with her teammates would have changed regardless. Same for the road trip details; I wasn't sure if it was me but driving from Atlanta to California felt like it was plotted by someone who pulled states out of a hat. Or any western state is interchangeable.
That said (there she is!), the relationship between Tanner and August (aka the hot guy. And, yes, I liked him) was cute. Again, however, I wanted way more closure around what happened with Tanner’s college best friend. I enjoyed the green jaguar sort of getaway car; that was a fun visual. Jules vs. Jewels was a fun twist, though it made me wonder if the audio version made this more obvious. It was pleasant enough, and I appreciate the attempt at something heartwarming and different. Overall, a light read with some feel-good vibes with a slow build and a few clichés.
Quotes I liked:
“Angry women don’t bother me. It’s the ones who aren’t furious that I worry about.”
It's a book that's supposed to be a cozy, quirky, easy read focusing on a unlikely friendship and cross-country mystery (and a head nod to Thelma and Louise), and it mostly is. We have the intergenerational (eventual) friendship of Tanner, a 21-year-old ex-soccer star (due to an injury) turned disillusioned gamer, and Louise, an 84-year-old crossword aficionado with a taste for vodka and secrets. Louise is portrayed as sharp as a tack and hiding more than just a limp. Tanner is furious at the world but quietly desperate for purpose (and her best friend from college, which I never felt fully resolved on).
So, I think I liked Louise and would probably read a prequel about HER wild younger years. Tanner, though, was unfortunately mostly boring and frustrating. I didn’t find her relatable or endearing, and her privilege was grating. Dropping out of Northwestern over $10,000? That whole plotline felt flimsy. She has one year left, and don't they give out student loans like hotcakes? Or transfer to another school in Atlanta that's not the community college that she seems to loathe (which also, did that make sense? I thought she had 1 year left)? The logistics felt lacking. Also, not for nothing, but would she really even have loved her last year? She wouldn't have been able to play soccer and unfortunately her dynamic with her teammates would have changed regardless. Same for the road trip details; I wasn't sure if it was me but driving from Atlanta to California felt like it was plotted by someone who pulled states out of a hat. Or any western state is interchangeable.
That said (there she is!), the relationship between Tanner and August (aka the hot guy. And, yes, I liked him) was cute. Again, however, I wanted way more closure around what happened with Tanner’s college best friend. I enjoyed the green jaguar sort of getaway car; that was a fun visual. Jules vs. Jewels was a fun twist, though it made me wonder if the audio version made this more obvious. It was pleasant enough, and I appreciate the attempt at something heartwarming and different. Overall, a light read with some feel-good vibes with a slow build and a few clichés.
Quotes I liked:
“Angry women don’t bother me. It’s the ones who aren’t furious that I worry about.”