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A review by kelly_e
Some Maintenance Required by Marie-Renée Lavoie
funny
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? No
2.75
Title: Some Maintenance Required
Author: Marie-Renée Lavoie
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Tender • Mundane • Quirky
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Laurie is in her last year of high school, working part time at a restaurant, while also looking after Cindy, her neglected potty-mouthed little neighbour. Her father works at a garage, where a budding romance changes Laurie's understanding of class difference, and opens her eyes to a more complicated world. Close with her mother, Laurie often finds herself swept away in books, and she takes time to travel the world with Cindy without even leaving their home. Some Maintenance Required is a reminder that everyone needs a little maintenance every now and then.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I picked this one up during a Canadian author readathon because I'd previously enjoyed this author's work. This is a coming-of-age story focusing on everyday life, where not a whole lot actually happens. The writing style is frank and to the point. The mother/daughter relationship felt sincere. But it's been a few months since I read it and I honestly don't recall much of what it was even about, likely because it wasn't about much other than transitioning into adulthood where the world around you becomes changed.
For me, I felt as though a lot may have been lost in translation, and I'd be curious to read the original French version to see if my experience was any different. It has little moments of joy, of heartache, and of hope, but I just wanted more depth as honestly not a whole lot actually happens.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of translated coming-of-age stories
• readers who like this author's work
Author: Marie-Renée Lavoie
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Tender • Mundane • Quirky
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Laurie is in her last year of high school, working part time at a restaurant, while also looking after Cindy, her neglected potty-mouthed little neighbour. Her father works at a garage, where a budding romance changes Laurie's understanding of class difference, and opens her eyes to a more complicated world. Close with her mother, Laurie often finds herself swept away in books, and she takes time to travel the world with Cindy without even leaving their home. Some Maintenance Required is a reminder that everyone needs a little maintenance every now and then.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I picked this one up during a Canadian author readathon because I'd previously enjoyed this author's work. This is a coming-of-age story focusing on everyday life, where not a whole lot actually happens. The writing style is frank and to the point. The mother/daughter relationship felt sincere. But it's been a few months since I read it and I honestly don't recall much of what it was even about, likely because it wasn't about much other than transitioning into adulthood where the world around you becomes changed.
For me, I felt as though a lot may have been lost in translation, and I'd be curious to read the original French version to see if my experience was any different. It has little moments of joy, of heartache, and of hope, but I just wanted more depth as honestly not a whole lot actually happens.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of translated coming-of-age stories
• readers who like this author's work
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Death and Classism
death of partner, child neglect