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A review by mapetiteliseuse
The Very Nice Box by Laura Blackett, Eve Gleichman
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This ARC was kindly sent to me by the team at Verve books and will be released in the UK in July 2022.
This is a smart book, and crafted beautifully by the authors. On reading some other advance feedback I was a little hesitant at the mention of 'rom-com' - that's really not my style. But intrigue overcame me at descriptions of Ava and her world - how does a regimented and disciplined engineer navigate the fluffiness of corporate nonsense?
For me this was a read in three parts, the first half (ish) of the book was utterly page turning, we meet Ava and her quirks; and we get to know a little about how those quirks have manifested in her life in response to grief. The way that quirky language and her thought processes trickle into the narrative is joyful.
In that first half, alongside Ava, we're introduced to the (often cringe-worthy) corporate-ness of STADA; where Ava is well and truly absorbed in her career as a gifted product engineer. The way her personality aligns with the STADA brand but diverts from the corporate bullish*t and hierarchy is very often hilarious.
The breezy and witty introduction of Mat into that culture causes Ava to question her romantic perspectives - and I thoroughly enjoyed watching that unfold. I was completely bought into the characters, each one we meet being portrayed with intricate and subtle details.
There was a mid way 'hump' for me, once the focus shifted from Ava's day to day and more into her history; replayed through memories, I felt taken out of the world I'd been propelled into and definitely hit a few points where I was frustrated with that.
Fortunately though, that didn't last, and the latter half of the story met with the triumph of the first - I was not anticipating the elements of thrill that were to come, and that change of pace worked so well.
The authors did a great job handling subjects like gender, identity and sexuality - the use of language around those topics was so natural and subtle that for me, it helped to normalise them as part of the world we live in.
Ava was hands down one of the best characters I have read in a long time, and were in not for the mid point drag, I'd have very little to offer in the way of criticism.
This is a smart book, and crafted beautifully by the authors. On reading some other advance feedback I was a little hesitant at the mention of 'rom-com' - that's really not my style. But intrigue overcame me at descriptions of Ava and her world - how does a regimented and disciplined engineer navigate the fluffiness of corporate nonsense?
For me this was a read in three parts, the first half (ish) of the book was utterly page turning, we meet Ava and her quirks; and we get to know a little about how those quirks have manifested in her life in response to grief. The way that quirky language and her thought processes trickle into the narrative is joyful.
In that first half, alongside Ava, we're introduced to the (often cringe-worthy) corporate-ness of STADA; where Ava is well and truly absorbed in her career as a gifted product engineer. The way her personality aligns with the STADA brand but diverts from the corporate bullish*t and hierarchy is very often hilarious.
The breezy and witty introduction of Mat into that culture causes Ava to question her romantic perspectives - and I thoroughly enjoyed watching that unfold. I was completely bought into the characters, each one we meet being portrayed with intricate and subtle details.
There was a mid way 'hump' for me, once the focus shifted from Ava's day to day and more into her history; replayed through memories, I felt taken out of the world I'd been propelled into and definitely hit a few points where I was frustrated with that.
Fortunately though, that didn't last, and the latter half of the story met with the triumph of the first - I was not anticipating the elements of thrill that were to come, and that change of pace worked so well.
The authors did a great job handling subjects like gender, identity and sexuality - the use of language around those topics was so natural and subtle that for me, it helped to normalise them as part of the world we live in.
Ava was hands down one of the best characters I have read in a long time, and were in not for the mid point drag, I'd have very little to offer in the way of criticism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent