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malefailure's Reviews (45)
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
slow-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 had already read this book once. Like, half of it, so it was originally a DNF. I picked it up again because I saw it on the shelf of the library I was at.
At first, it seemed pretty average, more of a "kind of like it" type book. I wasn't too invested in the characters or what they had going on but as things progressed I liked the characters seperately; Penny as this awkward, despondent, and standoffish shell and Sam as this messy, confused, and bereft guy. I didn't really see the chemistry between them at all, more like them coincidentally being with each other at difficult periods of their lives - until the last few chapters.
I won't bring up the end, because I think it's better to not know it, but that kind of solidified the idea of their weird, makeshift romance. Still not a fan of the age gap, and I think Sam House needs to get his shit together, but ultimately they are cute in an awkward way. So if you like awkward, messy romances, it's a good read.
Plus, imagining Penny in a dress with a jacket over it trying to seem appealing to Sam amuses me.
At first, it seemed pretty average, more of a "kind of like it" type book. I wasn't too invested in the characters or what they had going on but as things progressed I liked the characters seperately; Penny as this awkward, despondent, and standoffish shell and Sam as this messy, confused, and bereft guy. I didn't really see the chemistry between them at all, more like them coincidentally being with each other at difficult periods of their lives - until the last few chapters.
I won't bring up the end, because I think it's better to not know it, but that kind of solidified the idea of their weird, makeshift romance. Still not a fan of the age gap, and I think Sam House needs to get his shit together, but ultimately they are cute in an awkward way. So if you like awkward, messy romances, it's a good read.
Plus, imagining Penny in a dress with a jacket over it trying to seem appealing to Sam amuses me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Right, so. I am a tarot reader, this book's heavy taromancy themes are not lost on me - I appreciate the attention and detail to said themes. I also like that the four cards that are missing are minor arcana, and not major arcana.
The plot of this book *should* be interesting, I mean, it is. Finding the missing cards to the deck made by a mysterious and eccentric tarot artist? That sounded amazing when I picked up this book.
Unfortunately, while the plot itself is interesting and relevant to me - the characters don't click at all for me. They feel very weirdly written - maybe it's a choice book thing - but they feel inconsistent and fickle. I also just don't like their personalities, aside from Cleo who managed to be mostly likable.
The choices don't resonate with me either, like they did not feel massively impactful and important. I did not feel any sense of completion even though I managed to recover all four cards - and the pacing is *kind* of weird.
Ultimately, I still liked the concept well enough and managed to finish the book. My favourite part of this book is definetely the concept of a tarot cult based around the four elements of tarot: the Wanderers, the Coupled, the Repentant, and the Sworn. Being reflective of the aspects of their suits was also pretty cool (I particularly liked the Coupled and Sworn).
The plot of this book *should* be interesting, I mean, it is. Finding the missing cards to the deck made by a mysterious and eccentric tarot artist? That sounded amazing when I picked up this book.
Unfortunately, while the plot itself is interesting and relevant to me - the characters don't click at all for me. They feel very weirdly written - maybe it's a choice book thing - but they feel inconsistent and fickle. I also just don't like their personalities, aside from Cleo who managed to be mostly likable.
The choices don't resonate with me either, like they did not feel massively impactful and important. I did not feel any sense of completion even though I managed to recover all four cards - and the pacing is *kind* of weird.
Ultimately, I still liked the concept well enough and managed to finish the book. My favourite part of this book is definetely the concept of a tarot cult based around the four elements of tarot: the Wanderers, the Coupled, the Repentant, and the Sworn. Being reflective of the aspects of their suits was also pretty cool (I particularly liked the Coupled and Sworn).
A pretty good book. The beginning is shaky, and in my opinion somewhat cringeworthy but without it and the setup of Rocky's life, you couldn't get to the end. The bullying and abuse are a bit hard to read for some, though.
"I have to return some video tapes."
I honestly think this is a good book, save for the lengthy paragraphs about whose wearing what designer brand. Patrick's breakdowns are really interesting to read as an exploration of fragile masculinity and needing to "fit in". Also, the book is kind of funny, but if you want horror comedy the movie does it a lot better.
But, honestly, can we talk about how horrifying it is to read this book as a woman? Like, it is genuinely offputting, the long lengthy descriptions of how Bateman brutalizes women in the book. I guess since it is horror, it gets an A+ for genuinely making me mortified.
I honestly think this is a good book, save for the lengthy paragraphs about whose wearing what designer brand. Patrick's breakdowns are really interesting to read as an exploration of fragile masculinity and needing to "fit in". Also, the book is kind of funny, but if you want horror comedy the movie does it a lot better.
But, honestly, can we talk about how horrifying it is to read this book as a woman? Like, it is genuinely offputting, the long lengthy descriptions of how Bateman brutalizes women in the book. I guess since it is horror, it gets an A+ for genuinely making me mortified.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you, Alice Oseman, for understanding that the scene between Rooney and Pip being played out was in fact INTEGRAL to the perfection of this book. It was 100% neccesary and very cool. It could not have finished better.
Thank you for writing a genuine story about aroaces figuring themselves out, and offering resources at the end, too.
Thank you for writing a genuine story about aroaces figuring themselves out, and offering resources at the end, too.
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes