elle_h_paperback 's review for:

Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday

4.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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The title of this book perfectly defines the main character. I loved Effie in Earl’s Trip, and getting to dive into him as a main character was even better than I could have hoped. The acceptance, heart, and love between all of these characters follows through from that book to this.

I found the beginning to have a lot of ‘romance reasons’ to get the main characters together, and it was a bit slower. That said, Jenny Holiday has a gift for writing interactions between characters. Found families, how these Earl’s have come together, and the people who have become important to them along the way are the crux of this series. The way these characters support and care about each other could be unbelievable or insincere, but because of the way the author guides the characters and readers,  it is beautiful and heartwarming. By the end I didn’t want to put it down.

Big picture commentaries about society are woven into the main character plots, without ever feeling like a history lesson. This context really adds to our love and understanding of the characters. Both Julianna and Effie are wonderfully individual, and I loved the quirks and perspectives that made them who they are. I would definitely recommend it BUT I would recommend reading Earl’s Trip first. The context given there to all of the characters definitely enhances this read.