Caitlin
A simple premise, but a strong execution. I really liked the leads who felt like real people, though maybe they don't feel as iconic or distinct as other romcom couples as a result. The ex-boyfriend redemption arc was great, especially because I was worried he would become cartoonishly evil. I mean, that role is reserved for the female lead's dad, but I'll let that one slide. And is it just me or did this one have Little Mermaid vibes? Was that intentional? Am I going crazy?
The book's title does a better job of describing my feelings towards this book than the dynamic going on between the lead couple. These two are cute with a capital Q and TOTALLY, UNQUESTIONABLY into each other. The fact that they're even unsure makes them seem dense af because I mean these signals could not be more obvious. I cannot believe that for the WHOLE plot they weren't clear on the fact that their fake dating was just them ... actually dating. Come on, people, wise up. Overall, sweet slice of life, but I will say that sweetness doesn't mix especially well when things get spicy, if you know what I mean.
I like romance full of shlock, but I'm not (in theory) opposed to challenging the leads with non-romantic IRL issues. It's just this one dug so deep in that direction that it made me wonder why it needed to have any romance at all. Quite frankly, I'm kind of wondering if it's worse off for having that as a focal point since it just distracts from the other elements at play. The book's resolution also really rubbed me the wrong way.
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.
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'm interested in Garou and his whole deal, but I can't say much else stood out about this volume. Maybe my fave OPM thing - the fight scenes and their use of space on the pages - are shortening the meat of each volume and dragging the pacing out a bit more than what I'm used to from other manga. Still - I'm entertained.
God why. The leads are bland and obtuse. Although the male lead starts on a dickish foot, his choice to leave the female lead was honestly the only noteworthy thing that happened in this book at all. In fact, I might describe it as the only actually well-motivated choice anyone makes in this thing. The plot has zero tension or conflict. Also, riddle me this: why is it three parts? Why break up the acts like this? It makes no sense. At least it's short.
The feminist themes and prose are highlights of this retelling, but its strengths end there and those strengths honestly kind of clash. Perhaps a side effect of the audiobook narrator, but the characterization rings decently hollow for me and the pacing trends towards aimless. A dash of modernity just isn't enough and I just think that if you're going to retell a myth centuries old in today's day and age, it's got to add something more substantive from a modern lens beyond the feminist angle presented here.
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.
I loved Michelle Obama's memoir “Becoming” by Michelle Obama (inside joke) so I was naturally worried about this one's sequel-y vibe. How do you follow perfection? But Michelle is so eloquent and her life advice HITS. Perfect balance of wisdom and realness. Straight fire and I think all ages will be able to take something away from this one. To quote Michelle herself, “Hey, Queen! Girl, you have done it again, constantly raising the bar for us all and doing it flawlessly. I'd say I'm surprised, but I know who you are. I've seen it up close and personal. Girl, you make me so proud and I love you.”
I'm really torn on this one. On the one hand, it definitely feels like a draft when you hold it up to the class act of To Kill a Mockingbird. Likewise, the elder abuse allegations paint a very troubling shadow over the entire book and the race discourse that is tackled make it really messy at its core. On the other hand, there are seeds here for some really interesting themes - including those about growing up without a mother and environment shaping your views - that I think would have especially been so powerful if Lee had maybe been able to optimally work on this book in her prime. I'm also probably a part of the minority who think that Atticus Finch turning out to be more racist than Scout's memory leads you to believe is a really smart take that forces the reader to examine what it means to see your idols as flawed humans. It's an especially interesting approach in a post-MeToo era where we often have to confront the fact that certain individuals we put up on pedestals are more fallible than we give them credit for.