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A review by cherrysoda
The Stag and Hen Weekend by Mike Gayle
3.0
A novel idea: but unfortunately as with a lot of Mike gayles pre-2020 work it was a miss for me.
I loved the idea of a novel split in half, and Helens perspective was an amusing enough read, but Phil’s was a bit trash to be honest. It was so cliche and really felt like it was written for the lads (maybe I’m just the wrong audience then) with men listing after attractive females even when they are supposedly madly in love with another. Also why are what seem like fairly shitty men (read not really career driven, only mildly attractive and morally ambiguous) ending up with very successful, beautiful and all round great women? Like in alarmist every relationship it felt like the make was really kicking out which made be very conscious this had been written for a man, by a man.
I was tossing up between 2 and 3 stars and only went with the higher due to actually finishing the book (high hasn’t happened for a few books recently for me)
…so I’d say either just read half the book aka the Hens (and know it has an ending which leaves a LOT to the imagination) or stay away and try one of Gayle’s reads from the 2020’s and beyond.
I loved the idea of a novel split in half, and Helens perspective was an amusing enough read, but Phil’s was a bit trash to be honest. It was so cliche and really felt like it was written for the lads (maybe I’m just the wrong audience then) with men listing after attractive females even when they are supposedly madly in love with another. Also why are what seem like fairly shitty men (read not really career driven, only mildly attractive and morally ambiguous) ending up with very successful, beautiful and all round great women? Like in alarmist every relationship it felt like the make was really kicking out which made be very conscious this had been written for a man, by a man.
I was tossing up between 2 and 3 stars and only went with the higher due to actually finishing the book (high hasn’t happened for a few books recently for me)
…so I’d say either just read half the book aka the Hens (and know it has an ending which leaves a LOT to the imagination) or stay away and try one of Gayle’s reads from the 2020’s and beyond.