3.0
emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

 I continue to see and enjoy stories with older protagonists, and here is one from @libro.fm #partner, ๐‘ฏ๐‘ถ๐‘พ ๐‘ซ๐‘ถ๐‘ฌ๐‘บ ๐‘ป๐‘ฏ๐‘จ๐‘ป ๐‘ด๐‘จ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฌ ๐’€๐‘ถ๐‘ผ ๐‘ญ๐‘ฌ๐‘ฌ๐‘ณ, ๐‘ด๐‘จ๐‘ฎ๐‘ซ๐‘จ ๐‘ฌ๐‘ฒ๐‘ณ๐‘ผ๐‘ต๐‘ซ? ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐‘จ๐’๐’๐’‚ ๐‘ด๐’๐’๐’•๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’–๐’† and narrated by the one and only, Cynthia Nixon.

I will admit, I had high expectations with this one. Magda seems like that โ€œtypicalโ€ gruff character who
is about to find a softer part of herself through her grief journey that becomes a literal road trip with her
friendโ€™s ashes. This does happen, as well as a coming-to-peace with herself and her sexuality.

I really wanted to like this one more. I think when I see a cartoon cover, I expect more humor. There is definitely some of that (and several great characters), but for some reason it just fell a bit flat for me.

What I am really loving, however, is the recurring theme with all of these stories that our lives are not over at any certain age. We can, and should, continue to grow and experience all the parts of life that make us human; mainly valuable relationships.

As I write this, I think I have an inkling of what is hard for me with several of these stories (at least lately):
they seem to center around finding another love. While I do think that this is a lovely idea that absolutely is worthy, I think I prefer to see stories that prioritize friendships or a sense of completeness without a partner. Plus, I just donโ€™t love romance, so thereโ€™s that!

I think most people will enjoy this older coming-of-age story as least as much as I did, and probably more. I think I am in a curmudgenly mood, so give this a try if it sounds like a fun one!