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romanaromana 's review for:
Under Rose-Tainted Skies
by Louise Gornall
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
5 stars.
(Here are some content warnings. To add: agoraphobia and OCD. Nothing in this review).
Re-reading this was a dream! I have been meaning to do it forever, since it's an all-time favourite and I've found myself re-reading snippets often over the years. I'm very pleased to say that it was still super enjoyable.
Norah's humour struck me on this re-read - I remember her making some comments that were light, and that the book overall didn't feel like a heavy read despite its subject matter, but I was pleasantly surprised by the giggles it gave me. I found Norah's humour - lots of sarcasm and over-exaggeration - to be somewhat fitting to her character and incredibly consistent throughout Rose. Norah's conversations with and observations of her mum and Luke also provided great opportunities for comedy.
In general I found Norah's voice to be really genuine and vivid in its insight into her life, her fears and anxieties in particular. It's not exactly understandable when Norah explains these, but I think Louise Gornall knew that and did well not to over-explain in an attempt to make her readers relate or empathise with her protagonist. I liked the fact that a lot of Norah's thoughts are simply laid on the table in their rawest form, and readers are trusted to accept them as part of her story.
A final word on the romance, because I've always loved Norah and Luke, and returning to their beginnings was such a treat this week. I find all of their interactions so sweet, and their romantic journey such a warm and gentle one. It's hopeful and optimistic without being unrealistic, which you could argue is all I'm ever looking for in romance.
This was a hugely strong start to what I hope will be a tentative entry into the re-reading realm. Yes, I still have a million books I have never read which demand my attention, but it was nice to collapse into a familiar, cherished story. I get it.
(Here are some content warnings. To add: agoraphobia and OCD. Nothing in this review).
Re-reading this was a dream! I have been meaning to do it forever, since it's an all-time favourite and I've found myself re-reading snippets often over the years. I'm very pleased to say that it was still super enjoyable.
Norah's humour struck me on this re-read - I remember her making some comments that were light, and that the book overall didn't feel like a heavy read despite its subject matter, but I was pleasantly surprised by the giggles it gave me. I found Norah's humour - lots of sarcasm and over-exaggeration - to be somewhat fitting to her character and incredibly consistent throughout Rose. Norah's conversations with and observations of her mum and Luke also provided great opportunities for comedy.
In general I found Norah's voice to be really genuine and vivid in its insight into her life, her fears and anxieties in particular. It's not exactly understandable when Norah explains these, but I think Louise Gornall knew that and did well not to over-explain in an attempt to make her readers relate or empathise with her protagonist. I liked the fact that a lot of Norah's thoughts are simply laid on the table in their rawest form, and readers are trusted to accept them as part of her story.
A final word on the romance, because I've always loved Norah and Luke, and returning to their beginnings was such a treat this week. I find all of their interactions so sweet, and their romantic journey such a warm and gentle one. It's hopeful and optimistic without being unrealistic, which you could argue is all I'm ever looking for in romance.
This was a hugely strong start to what I hope will be a tentative entry into the re-reading realm. Yes, I still have a million books I have never read which demand my attention, but it was nice to collapse into a familiar, cherished story. I get it.