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A review by sydneythewhale
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Nov. 2022: 2.25⭐️
I don't know that I've ever had such complicated feelings about a book before. It's really unfortunate that the entire premise and execution of this book is so creepy because otherwise I would've really liked this book. That sounds contradictory, but I really do love Rainbow Rowell's writing style and realness she infuses into her characters. So I'd be reading this, having a good time, relatively successfully ignoring or rationalizing the weird premise, and then Lincoln would make some comment about how Beth was his and then I'd get mad and grossed out again. Because while Rowell creates characters that feel and speak like real people, I fundamentally do not like those people. Lincoln – I feel like that one's self-explanatory. And then there's Beth and Jennifer, two characters primarily defined by their relationship problems, hatred of their own bodies, and disdain of almost other women.
I kind of went into this book expecting to hate it just based on the synopsis alone (which, sure, not the best to do, but this has been on my tbr for a long time and I've enjoyed Rowell's work in the past), but I really didn't. I liked Lincoln's character arc, I liked the email format, and the chapter and a half where Lincoln and Beth actually speak to each other was very sweet. I guess it really just comes down to the misogyny-fueled language (Lincoln's feelings of possession over Beth, a considerable amount of Beth and Jennifer's conversations, etc.), which is just... unfortunate.
I don't know that I've ever had such complicated feelings about a book before. It's really unfortunate that the entire premise and execution of this book is so creepy because otherwise I would've really liked this book. That sounds contradictory, but I really do love Rainbow Rowell's writing style and realness she infuses into her characters. So I'd be reading this, having a good time, relatively successfully ignoring or rationalizing the weird premise, and then Lincoln would make some comment about how Beth was his and then I'd get mad and grossed out again. Because while Rowell creates characters that feel and speak like real people, I fundamentally do not like those people. Lincoln – I feel like that one's self-explanatory. And then there's Beth and Jennifer, two characters primarily defined by their relationship problems, hatred of their own bodies, and disdain of almost other women.
I kind of went into this book expecting to hate it just based on the synopsis alone (which, sure, not the best to do, but this has been on my tbr for a long time and I've enjoyed Rowell's work in the past), but I really didn't. I liked Lincoln's character arc, I liked the email format, and the chapter and a half where Lincoln and Beth actually speak to each other was very sweet. I guess it really just comes down to the misogyny-fueled language (Lincoln's feelings of possession over Beth, a considerable amount of Beth and Jennifer's conversations, etc.), which is just... unfortunate.