A review by faerieboo
Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

Review taken from my Goodreads account. Please keep in mind that I had know idea about Storygraph when first reading this in 2020 and therefore had no access to the content warnings.

Rated one star due to the fact the book does not include trigger warnings for anorexia. It was hard to enjoy the book as a struggling anorexic boy when the main character frequently exhibited signs of a psuedo-recovered anorexic and his disorders habits weren't challenged at all. If there had been a trigger warning somewhere on the back of the book, I believe I either wouldn't have picked it up or the exposure to such subjects would have been prepared for.

The depiction of Charlie, who is anorexic (not recovered, might I add), needs some work. I don't believe in the slightest he was hospitalised (due to attempted suicide, but his anorexia would have been picked up as a cause/trigger) and not put on an eating plan for when he came out, which would include frequent high calorie snacks (which he refuses). He eats half of a chocolate bar at the end of the novel which... is a big step for an anorexic, of course, but should be part of his plan and something he has regularly while he builds up his weight.

Also, he seems to focus on other people's food at one point in the novella, which is a clear sign of restriction and relapse.

Unfortunately this novella seems to glorify eating disorders. Unless the main character is recovered, I believe eating disorders shouldn't be mentioned in novels and novellas like these. Showing the negative impacts of the disorders to their full extent is important and a romance novella that would rather focus on drama is not able to do that.

EDIT: Had to edit the review due to mistakingly labelling Nick as the anorexic character when it's actually Charlie. And, no, I hadn't read Solitaire prior to this novella. It does work as a stand alone and I believe you don't have to read Solitaire to enjoy this, if you can get past the poor depiction of anorexia and the recovery.
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