Scan barcode
A review by betweentheshelves
Epically Earnest by Molly Horan
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Jane Grady gained notoriety as a baby when she was found on the subway in a Gucci bag at just a year old. Considered one of the first viral internet sensations, she’s now in her senior year of high school. And her best friend, Algie, just gave her a piece of information about her biological family. Now, she has to decide if it’s something she wants to pursue.
While trying to make that decision, she’s also dealing with a crush on Algie’s cousin, Gwen. In order to set herself on the right path, Jane has to be honest with herself, her friends, and her family. But that’s all easier said than done. Especially if she wants her life to be truly epic.
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for an advanced copy of Epically Earnest to review! Even though I know very little about the Oscar Wilde play it’s based on, there was still a lot to enjoy about this story. It’s about family, about finding yourself, and making your own epic story.
What this book has going for it is its characters. There are great family and friend relationships, and they are just hilarious. There were so many moments humor, making this an overall lighthearted read. Out of all the characters, I think Algie was my favorite. He put things just over the top, and made every situation all the more humorous.
While you don’t need to know The Importance of Being Earnest to understand what’s going on in the book, I think knowing a bit about would help with some of the references. Lookign at other reviews, I know there were a lot of nods to the source material, and I would have enjoyed that. Maybe someday I’ll get to The Importance of Being Earnest and come back to this book!
All in all, if you’re looking for a lighthearted book to read this summer, definitely check this one out!
------
For the most part, I enjoyed this. There was just something about the voice that felt a little off. Stay tuned for a full review to come this week!
While trying to make that decision, she’s also dealing with a crush on Algie’s cousin, Gwen. In order to set herself on the right path, Jane has to be honest with herself, her friends, and her family. But that’s all easier said than done. Especially if she wants her life to be truly epic.
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for an advanced copy of Epically Earnest to review! Even though I know very little about the Oscar Wilde play it’s based on, there was still a lot to enjoy about this story. It’s about family, about finding yourself, and making your own epic story.
What this book has going for it is its characters. There are great family and friend relationships, and they are just hilarious. There were so many moments humor, making this an overall lighthearted read. Out of all the characters, I think Algie was my favorite. He put things just over the top, and made every situation all the more humorous.
While you don’t need to know The Importance of Being Earnest to understand what’s going on in the book, I think knowing a bit about would help with some of the references. Lookign at other reviews, I know there were a lot of nods to the source material, and I would have enjoyed that. Maybe someday I’ll get to The Importance of Being Earnest and come back to this book!
All in all, if you’re looking for a lighthearted book to read this summer, definitely check this one out!
------
For the most part, I enjoyed this. There was just something about the voice that felt a little off. Stay tuned for a full review to come this week!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit