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A review by emilyjmead
Counting Stars by Keris Stainton
3.0
I’m really happy that New Adult is a genre that’s slowly expanding.
And also a genre that isn’t just “YA with sex.” Because, you know, next year I’ll be at university and doing all the adulting things, and I think it’s great that I’ll have at least SOME books with protagonists going through the same thing.
Although let me just say that I’m SO glad I’m not in Anna’s shoes.
But it was nice to have a character whose plans didn’t involve university or college or whatever. And it was nice for a perspective where everything that could possibly go wrong DID go wrong, and yet things were okay in the end. Doing my final high school exams at the moment, I’m seeing SO SO many people freaking out about what their marks are going to be, whether they can get into their course to get a degree to get a good job etc etc.
This book shows you that there are other avenues out there, you know? I mean, after high school I could be a full-time professional wrestler, you never know.
My favourite part of COUNTING STARS was definitely the whole “living-with-flatmates” thing.
Eventually I’d like to move out with my own friends, and I was kind of looking for reassurance, with this book, that we wouldn’t end up wanting to kill each other.
BUT THEY WERE ALL SO LOVELY TO EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTIVE AND JUST GREAT. There’s this scene right at the beginning of the book where they’re all drinking together, and it gets hilarious and crazy pretty fast.
It went downhill a bit after that but still, it started well.
I think my MAIN quibble was with the omniscient narration. You know, EVERYONE gets to talk (even if they’re not very interesting).
I would have preferred just Anna’s narration, honestly. Instead you’re trying to keep track of everyone’s issues/job/personality/boyfriend/girlfriend and it’s just SO MUCH. My small brain can only handle so much, you know.
BUT I did like how all these different, chaotic views of adulthood were explored. Adulting is crazy, seriously. 0/10 would not recommend.
Overall, it’s a nice coming-of-adult novel (it’s a thing) with lots of unique characters and personal dramas.
I wasn’t crazy about it, but looking back it was a good read – totally recommend for anyone going out into the Big Wide World of Adulting.
And also a genre that isn’t just “YA with sex.” Because, you know, next year I’ll be at university and doing all the adulting things, and I think it’s great that I’ll have at least SOME books with protagonists going through the same thing.
Although let me just say that I’m SO glad I’m not in Anna’s shoes.
But it was nice to have a character whose plans didn’t involve university or college or whatever. And it was nice for a perspective where everything that could possibly go wrong DID go wrong, and yet things were okay in the end. Doing my final high school exams at the moment, I’m seeing SO SO many people freaking out about what their marks are going to be, whether they can get into their course to get a degree to get a good job etc etc.
This book shows you that there are other avenues out there, you know? I mean, after high school I could be a full-time professional wrestler, you never know.
My favourite part of COUNTING STARS was definitely the whole “living-with-flatmates” thing.
Eventually I’d like to move out with my own friends, and I was kind of looking for reassurance, with this book, that we wouldn’t end up wanting to kill each other.
BUT THEY WERE ALL SO LOVELY TO EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTIVE AND JUST GREAT. There’s this scene right at the beginning of the book where they’re all drinking together, and it gets hilarious and crazy pretty fast.
It went downhill a bit after that but still, it started well.
I think my MAIN quibble was with the omniscient narration. You know, EVERYONE gets to talk (even if they’re not very interesting).
I would have preferred just Anna’s narration, honestly. Instead you’re trying to keep track of everyone’s issues/job/personality/boyfriend/girlfriend and it’s just SO MUCH. My small brain can only handle so much, you know.
BUT I did like how all these different, chaotic views of adulthood were explored. Adulting is crazy, seriously. 0/10 would not recommend.
Overall, it’s a nice coming-of-adult novel (it’s a thing) with lots of unique characters and personal dramas.
I wasn’t crazy about it, but looking back it was a good read – totally recommend for anyone going out into the Big Wide World of Adulting.