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A review by bunnipdf
Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Raw and challenging, Sarah Rose Etter pens a reality that we turn away from. Or rather, desensitize ourselves to by scrolling, scrolling, scrolling. Ripe’s ability to so beautifully press on what plagues us new adult and millennial women as we navigate careers, hustle culture, substance abuse, complicated love lives, abortion, maternal wounds, misogyny, mental health, an ever-growing housing crisis, climate change, and the absurdity of trying to balance it all. It is always a marvel when a novel can so precisely yet uniquely reflect what we are afraid to look at in our own lives. The prose in Ripe was so devastating but memorable.
Unfortunately, it’s use of magical realism is disappointing. The dread of Cassie’s black hole is supposed to be ever present, but it feels slightly underutilized. I did anticipate more from this element of Cassie’s life. Also underutilized were both Nicole and Marie. It surprised me to find that Cassie valued either of them as friends, when as a reader, there was so little of a friendship to care about. While I understand Cassie’s isolation, it didn’t make sense for her to not at least be able to confide in Marie. Still, Ripe doesn’t disappoint as modern feminist literature and is sure to be a refreshing read.
Unfortunately, it’s use of magical realism is disappointing. The dread of Cassie’s black hole is supposed to be ever present, but it feels slightly underutilized. I did anticipate more from this element of Cassie’s life. Also underutilized were both Nicole and Marie. It surprised me to find that Cassie valued either of them as friends, when as a reader, there was so little of a friendship to care about. While I understand Cassie’s isolation, it didn’t make sense for her to not at least be able to confide in Marie. Still, Ripe doesn’t disappoint as modern feminist literature and is sure to be a refreshing read.