The fact that Shari Franke has dug herself out of the hole her mother (and father) put her in after a lifetime of emotional abuse is nothing short of The fact that Shari Franke has dug herself out of the hole her mother (and father) put her in after a lifetime of emotional abuse is nothing short of incredible. This book was extremely readable considering Shari's age and lack of experience as an author. Her outlook and attitude are amazing and I hope she makes millions of dollars in book sales because she deserves it.
Edited to add: after reading some other reviews, I can see where some of the events of the book are unclear. I read this after watching the Disney+ doco so I think that made the book more compelling, and recommend doing that for the full picture. ...more
As an Amway kid, this book was triggering and relatable for me. I thought the author did amazing research and fleshed out so many little details aboutAs an Amway kid, this book was triggering and relatable for me. I thought the author did amazing research and fleshed out so many little details about MLM's that are easily overlooked. God they are sinister. This book was amazing even though my thoughts and feelings about the author are complicated. I feel like I could read it all over again. Wow. ...more
Ok. So this was a kind of weird, slow, cute but odd novel which seemed to have bits of self help slipped in as a disguise as "just another random convOk. So this was a kind of weird, slow, cute but odd novel which seemed to have bits of self help slipped in as a disguise as "just another random conversation". It felt like Glennon Doyle tried to write a novel ...more
Please know that I recognise the problematic nature of having such dark themes handled in a bit of a loose manner without trigger warnings. But this bPlease know that I recognise the problematic nature of having such dark themes handled in a bit of a loose manner without trigger warnings. But this book was a page turner and I have to give it credit for roping me in well. I also think people are too quick to discount Phoebe's experience as "not properly suicidal" or "not suicidal enough" if she was just going to get better in a week. I think the spectrum of depression is broad with lots of grey areas and it's not up to anyone to decide if another's depiction of ideation or experience of ideation is good enough.
Also - and I really feel like y'all will come for me - I was kinda ok with the Lila character. I didn't mind her at all. We all have that one vapid and infuriatingly beautiful, decisive and motivated friend who is also kind of a brat. I actually felt like every character could draw empathy from me - even Matt and Mia.
Also I'm a book nerd so OF COURSE I was a sucker for some Jane Eye and Dalloway sprinkled in. ...more
Epic, harrowing, heartbreaking. Beautifully drawn characters and truly raw storylines. Doesn't hurt to do a quick wiki of the Sri Lankan civil war befEpic, harrowing, heartbreaking. Beautifully drawn characters and truly raw storylines. Doesn't hurt to do a quick wiki of the Sri Lankan civil war before you get into it but super readable either way.
Don't read if you're not ready to face the fact that Australia is full of racist fuckwits. This book is fiction but also kind of isn't if you know what I mean. ...more
I can't even compute how to write a review for this but it was so much better than what you think you'll experience when someone tells you to read a bI can't even compute how to write a review for this but it was so much better than what you think you'll experience when someone tells you to read a book that is a love story where the man turns into a shark.
I feel like it could have been done without the animorph factor, but then it just wouldn't have been the same unique experience would it.
It was weird but good, I liked it but it was still flawed and had some real unnecessary lulls. Also some really annoying and trite male/female dynamics in their relationship which I could have done without (he's just a spontaneous adventurer! She's so organised and dull - someone has to keep the household together.....big whomp whomp from me)...more
The writing was so beautiful but the story wasn't all there for me. I'll definitely read his work again though - there were waves of interest but it wThe writing was so beautiful but the story wasn't all there for me. I'll definitely read his work again though - there were waves of interest but it was tricky to follow the non linear path and threads weren't always tied in an obvious way for me. ...more
Loved that I smashed this book out in a day. Was compelled to get through the story but then felt frustrated at the incredibly heavy handed red herrinLoved that I smashed this book out in a day. Was compelled to get through the story but then felt frustrated at the incredibly heavy handed red herring. And a plot twist that just doesn't work for a story narrated in the first person. The writing style was so basic and certain themes so overdone (husband having red flags mentioned approximately 25835 times for eg). If it had taken any longer to read I would have abandoned. ...more
I get why this book is such a sensation, but personally I could do with haviSo. Many. Bodily. Fluids.
This is a story about a woman who needs therapy.
I get why this book is such a sensation, but personally I could do with having never read it. It was almost super clever and super relatable and then just went extremely extremely far in another direction. ...more
Weirdly melancholic (its whole premise is the death if a 15 year old girl) but gets more uplifting as you get into the story. For what I thought was fWeirdly melancholic (its whole premise is the death if a 15 year old girl) but gets more uplifting as you get into the story. For what I thought was fluffy YA fiction, I found quite poignant at the end, and it even pulled a tear. I actually loved the framing of the afterlife, particularly after losing my dog this year, the regular feature of dogs in the storyline really warmed my heart. ...more
Dark subject matter but interesting without being overly intense. I appreciate when an author deals with sensitive subject matter without being gratuiDark subject matter but interesting without being overly intense. I appreciate when an author deals with sensitive subject matter without being gratuitous and i feel Boyne has been respectful here. Interesting quote about finding a woman to blame for a man's crimes. ...more
I found this book part funny and part tragic. I appreciated the authors ability to get inside the head of Gilda and portray a depressed anxious personI found this book part funny and part tragic. I appreciated the authors ability to get inside the head of Gilda and portray a depressed anxious person so well. I wasn't unhappy with the ending but it felt rushed and way too simplistic. I got some really good laughs from the undercover lesbian acting straight in a Catholic Church, especially when she is dating the clueless douchbag who can't take a hint or understand someone might not be into hearing about his entrepreneurial ventures and self help methods ("just choose to be happy" omg I'm dying). ...more
I was aim for something short and sweet but this was hard to read. Beautiful prose but easy to get lost, confused, have to reread a section, spend a bI was aim for something short and sweet but this was hard to read. Beautiful prose but easy to get lost, confused, have to reread a section, spend a bunch of time wondering what the last paragraph meant. A worthy read just not what I was expecting ...more
Boy did this book take me on a roller coaster. Sometimes I thought it was completely ridiculous, annoying and incredibly flawed. Then in the next reveBoy did this book take me on a roller coaster. Sometimes I thought it was completely ridiculous, annoying and incredibly flawed. Then in the next reveal I'd be in awe how much I had misunderstood and forgave the author his unbelievable dialogue and character traits (in POLICE OFFICERS of all people! I ask you!). Overall it was a delightful and heartwarming but when all I've read of Backman's is Bear Town (gritty, raw, disturbing, suspenseful and real), this felt like a huge departure from my expectations. ...more
What the fuck. You need to be comfortable with that phrase if you decide to read this book because you will be thinking it or saying it out loud (or tWhat the fuck. You need to be comfortable with that phrase if you decide to read this book because you will be thinking it or saying it out loud (or texting it to the friend who told you to read the book) literally every page. Every page is another level of what the fuckery and when you think this book is going to go somewhere - what the fuck - it definitely doesn't.
The author writes in a way that comes off as trying to hard, the characters are horrible and unlikeable with horrible unlikeable friends. I'm only giving it two stars because it did get me one book closer to my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ goal so....eh, what the fuck (sorry couldn't help myself for that one). ...more
Odd but funny, and thought provoking. I'm sure there's lots of speculation as to Keiko's personality type and neurological attributes but I tried not Odd but funny, and thought provoking. I'm sure there's lots of speculation as to Keiko's personality type and neurological attributes but I tried not to get caught up in that and just let my self get soaked up by this peculiar but refreshing attitude. ...more
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