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A review by destdest
My Week with Him by Joya Goffney
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Listen. Goffney is one of my favorite authors. Her characters always feel human, and she gets the big emotions teens have very well. The stories are refreshing and usually include a unique facet.
Here, we have a mother with very toxic parenting, but it’s not black and white. The mom, who is horrid no joke, isn’t a caricature. You see how some parts of her love her kids, but she’s very barbed and her relationships aren’t healthy.
The book also doesn't make excuses for her poor parenting either. It just acknowledges her as a fully dimensional character. In real life, there are problematic people that we still love. I liked how the book handles it. The resolution: Nikki decides to give her mom another chance after her mom tries to be emotionally vulnerable. But she hasn't forgiven her and knows she has Mal's family and her singing career as a back-up. How it goes now all hinges on the mama.
I loved Mal! I was concerned the book would have him lead on a girl, but that loose end is resolved quickly. He’s who the book boyfriend girlies should be looking at. You can see it wasn’t just physical, his connection to Nikki. He put his money, his words, and his heart with her. He STOOD ON BIDNESS this whole book. He's almost too good to be true. Also,The book doesn't go here nor did I want it to, honestly. But Mal likes to feel needed. I think he genuinely likes being able to take care of Nikki emotionally and financially.
In the future, when she gets on her feet and can take care of herself, I wonder if he'll feel unwanted and act out, especially when she's a big star. Or maybe he's mature and if they break up it ends amicably
Not that i'm wishing that on these very sweet fictional characters, but i've seen it in IRL"
Often a main character is a singer (or loves books/a writer), and it falls flat. But I truly believed in Nikki’s connection to music. I also enjoyed the sister relationship and the tense family dynamics.
5 STARS, BABY!
Here, we have a mother with very toxic parenting, but it’s not black and white. The mom, who is horrid no joke, isn’t a caricature. You see how some parts of her love her kids, but she’s very barbed and her relationships aren’t healthy.
The book also doesn't make excuses for her poor parenting either. It just acknowledges her as a fully dimensional character. In real life, there are problematic people that we still love. I liked how the book handles it. The resolution:
I loved Mal! I was concerned the book would have him lead on a girl, but that loose end is resolved quickly. He’s who the book boyfriend girlies should be looking at. You can see it wasn’t just physical, his connection to Nikki. He put his money, his words, and his heart with her. He STOOD ON BIDNESS this whole book. He's almost too good to be true. Also,
In the future, when she gets on her feet and can take care of herself, I wonder if he'll feel unwanted and act out, especially when she's a big star. Or maybe he's mature and if they break up it ends amicably
Not that i'm wishing that on these very sweet fictional characters, but i've seen it in IRL"
Often a main character is a singer (or loves books/a writer), and it falls flat. But I truly believed in Nikki’s connection to music. I also enjoyed the sister relationship and the tense family dynamics.
5 STARS, BABY!