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A review by messymimms
Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
3.75
Welp! It happened…I took a break from reading. I started a slow book and a difficult book and then just…went back to TV for a while.
But anyway, I had to read Greta and Valdin for a book club (I don’t know why I’m saying I had to, it was my book suggestion) after going to a discussion by the author.
This book is chaotic and a little stressful at times, but it was also laugh out loud funny on a number of occasions. And that’s pretty great, it’s hard to make that happen.
I was intrigued at the event to find out that Rebecca K Reilly is not from a hodgepodge Māori and European family, because that seemed like such a weird and wonderful choice. She makes it work in the book, in an almost believable way. Almost.
This book perfectly captures what it’s like to be neurodivergent in a neurodivergent family and everyone thinks they’re normal because they’re all weird, and then when outsiders get a look in all of a sudden they realise they are really strange and have odd habits and traditions. And no one’s diagnosed cause no one needs to be (cause everyone is weird) except for OCD for some reason. Interesting.
I preferred the beginning to the end; I think I liked the characters more when they didn’t have their shit figured out. They were funnier then!
Nice book to get out of a slump. 3.75/5.
But anyway, I had to read Greta and Valdin for a book club (I don’t know why I’m saying I had to, it was my book suggestion) after going to a discussion by the author.
This book is chaotic and a little stressful at times, but it was also laugh out loud funny on a number of occasions. And that’s pretty great, it’s hard to make that happen.
I was intrigued at the event to find out that Rebecca K Reilly is not from a hodgepodge Māori and European family, because that seemed like such a weird and wonderful choice. She makes it work in the book, in an almost believable way. Almost.
This book perfectly captures what it’s like to be neurodivergent in a neurodivergent family and everyone thinks they’re normal because they’re all weird, and then when outsiders get a look in all of a sudden they realise they are really strange and have odd habits and traditions. And no one’s diagnosed cause no one needs to be (cause everyone is weird) except for OCD for some reason. Interesting.
I preferred the beginning to the end; I think I liked the characters more when they didn’t have their shit figured out. They were funnier then!
Nice book to get out of a slump. 3.75/5.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Domestic abuse