A review by isis
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

 
What a wonderful story of an unexpected, unconditional female friendship, and self-discovery. I had no idea what to expect from this book, but what I got was a longing for a friendship such as these two women had. It also had me looking at myself and what I truly want out of life. I felt a lot of feelings and did a lot of soul searching while reading Miss Benson's Beetle, and for me, that equates to a 5 star read.

Margery and Enid are both such well-developed characters, both with their own amusing eccentricities. I’m always a fan of The Odd Couple type friendships, and that’s exactly what this is. The impact they made on each other's lives were invaluable, but I especially enjoyed watching Margery become a totally different person by the end of the story.

I felt this story is a perfect blend of character and plot driven with good medium pacing. Rachel Joyce not only had me falling for Margery and Enid, but also for the setting of New Caledonia. She wrote so vividly of the area that I felt as if I had visited the area myself.

I think this is a great choice for anyone who enjoys adventure/explorer stories, unlikely/odd couple friendships, and well-developed characters.


CW: Suicide, miscarriage, POW torture, racial slurs, domestic violence, body shaming,

 
Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for the review copy

 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings