Caitlin

Bechloe fan-fic, is that you? I like my romance novels as tropey as possible and this definitely scratches that itch, though it also veers into romance cringe sometimes. Also, if this story was an AITA post, everyone would be the asshole.

Wow, what an intro! I'm not usually one for thrillers because the premise tends to supersede characters and themes. That said, this volume strikes the perfect balance between all of those elements. The analysis about what it means to do the “right thing” also really resonated with me for some reason and please let the record show that I used a Ted Lasso bookmark throughout my read that quoted, “Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing.” How positively ironic.

Unfortunately, this was a Backman that didn't hit for me. The book swings between grounded meaning and syrup-y sweetness on a dime. The grandmother foils Elsa nicely at the start, but, without her, Elsa becomes too precocious. I did listen to the audiobook so that may have made a difference, but still had difficulty coming to grips with the book's eccentricity.

Persuasion could be my favorite Austen (more investigation required to know for sure). BUT this was not the novel; this was the DRAMATIZATION, which I despise because prose is nixed in favor of inauthentic feeling dialogue and foley work. I also listened explicitly for Florence Pugh and she was JUST the narrator. WHY would you get Florence Pugh and then essentially bar her from delivering any of the meaningful, emotive dialogue that arguably gives Austen's novels their substance?

I read this out of a fear of FOMO: the series hit its zenith past my YA prime, but the premise had me interested, especially considering Cassandra Clare has apparently developed her writing over time with her later Shadowhunter books. The start of this one was fun, but Jace is unbearable. What an edgelord - I have no idea what made people think this sort of attitude was ever attractive. I also knew about the “incest” part and still got whiplash. What a weird “twist.” Still, I've heard this is one of the weaker entries for Clare and that the series/universe gets better so I will likely continue in spite of the low rating.