A review by xcameronfx
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Such a great concept for a book, and so well done! This book is definitely a love letter to 90s San Francisco, and is an interesting perspective on the dawn of the internet age. I loved how complex Jane is as a character, and how complicated her relationship with her father
(and eventually her mother)
is. There is no black and white villain, and I appreciate that it's both hard to like and hard to hate Saul.
I did think that the romantic relationship between Jane/Esme and Lionel was a bit predictable, but I suppose it makes sense considering he helped her out, and they shared a lot of interests. I think there was a big risk in making their dynamic unbalanced, since she was so vulnerable and new to the "real world," but I think in the end it didn't come off as creepy (which I was afraid of).
Despite being primarily set in the 90s, a lot of what is said about technology is surprisingly topical given the explosion of AI, and makes the whole villain arc of Saul all the more complex. A really compelling read!

*ARC access provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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