A review by houxli
Mimosa by Archie Bongiovanni

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm obsessed with this slow breakup. For once no one is willing to shoulder the support role in the group and that one time causes the structure to collapse. The way the story invites judgement on the characters is also delicious. It's begging you to look down at Chris and Elise especially. I found myself indulging in it, but also taking a step back and asking myself why. The writing (though suffering from the occasional very blatant lines) paints a nuanced picture that puts the characters' reasoning in the forefront so that their actions aren't simply for self-induced drama.
I agree with most other reviewers that Alex gets the short end of the narrative stick.

But because of his established laid-back nature, financial security, and his community building throughout the process of heading the party, I think it's Bongiovanni trusting the reader to figure out that he is a-okay.

It's #notthatdeep but what is deep is how all the quiet stuff informs everyone's decisions. Jo never outright says that her struggles evading poverty are made harder by her being a trans woman of color, but this is implied by the comfort she finds in an intersectional reading group.
Or Chris having a "Best Mommy Blog" award hanging in their office. I have many many doubts about Chris's writing talent and parenting, but the one thing that's for sure is that they take issue with being lumped in with single mothers. Is it the validation of their work that trumps the sidelining of their identity? Perhaps!

Further supported by Elise observing that Chris would sleep with anyone that complimented them. They're nuts for recognition.

The point is that the details add up.
This is a Most Pulp Mimosa, and it's definitely something you can chew on.

One last opinion: I think Jo psyched herself out with the Tarot reading. Why she got mad at Alex makes sense, even though it wasn't 100% fair, but she was primed for a catastrophe and thus made one with Alex's admission. Does she owe him the time of day? No, especially after he hung her pay over her head for the second Grind party. She moved on to greener pastures, so it was ultimately a net positive.

The five stars are for making me be able to talk about this story for hours.