Sign in with Facebook
Canadian Jen's Reviews > More or Less Maddy
More or Less Maddy
by
by
More or less...my thoughts.
Genova takes on an exploratory story deep into mental illness and gives us front row seats to witness it.
Maddy is a young adult. One day, she’s fine or at least holding it together. The next, she is unravelling and cutting to soothe the constant unease. Then a manic episode that lasts for weeks. She is diagnosed as being bipolar. A disease of instability with severe highs followed by deep lows.
What I didn’t like was the character in particular. I’m also not a fan of female standups - it all becomes about sex or body parts. No thanks.
Genova’s writing is rather prescriptive - if you’ve read one, you have more or less have read them all.
For me, it lacked lustre and the Taylor Swift references became annoying.
While I remain a Still Alice fan, this one was a disappointment.
Genova takes on an exploratory story deep into mental illness and gives us front row seats to witness it.
Maddy is a young adult. One day, she’s fine or at least holding it together. The next, she is unravelling and cutting to soothe the constant unease. Then a manic episode that lasts for weeks. She is diagnosed as being bipolar. A disease of instability with severe highs followed by deep lows.
What I didn’t like was the character in particular. I’m also not a fan of female standups - it all becomes about sex or body parts. No thanks.
Genova’s writing is rather prescriptive - if you’ve read one, you have more or less have read them all.
For me, it lacked lustre and the Taylor Swift references became annoying.
While I remain a Still Alice fan, this one was a disappointment.
Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read
More or Less Maddy.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Comments Showing 1-50 of 73 (73 new)
message 1:
by
Jayme
(new)
Mar 19, 2025 12:39PM
I think I would feel the same exact way! Terrific review!
reply
|
flag
Fair enough Jen!! Some of your issues with the character were mine as well�.I questioned those parts anyway. So totally get it. 💕🌺
Fab review. You gave it two stars instead of one; which is what I was expecting. So now you have to “Shake it Off�. You know “All Too Well� there are great books on your bookshelf. Possibly 5 star reads. “This Me Trying� to make you smile. 😊 🎶
Oh no! Hope your next is a winner Jen.
Tracy wrote: "Fab review. You gave it two stars instead of one; which is what I was expecting. So now you have to “Shake it Off�. You know “All Too Well� there are great books on your bookshelf. Possibly 5 star..."
OMG I hope those aren't all Swifty songs!!! But how clever of you if they are!! haha....The writing is easy and I did finish most of it so I feel confident with my 2..lol. Thanks Tracy! Your comment made me laugh!
Jayme wrote: "I think I would feel the same exact way! Terrific review!"Thanks Jayme...some obviously feel very differently towards this one...🤷♀�
Oh no! I’ve read most of this author’s books and loved some more than others. Sorry it wasn’t a winner, Jen.
Wonderful review! 📚🥰 Sorry that this one was a disappointment. Hope you are loving your current read.
Nice review, Jen! I am enjoying it, but I get your point. In my opinion, definitely not her best work.
Norma ~ The Sisters wrote: "Fair enough Jen!! Some of your issues with the character were mine as well�.I questioned those parts anyway. So totally get it. 💕🌺"It just wasn't her best IMO but glad you still enjoyed it, Norma!
Maureen wrote: "Oh no! Hope your next is a winner Jen."Thanks Maureen!
Lori wrote: "Oh no! I’ve read most of this author’s books and loved some more than others. Sorry it wasn’t a winner, Jen."I've liked her other ones as well, Lori. I think the whole comedian thing was off-putting to me from the get go. Oh well. You may love it! I may just be one of the few outliers here 😊
How disappointing Jen! She's done such great work educating us on neuro-diseases. Hey, I just notice that you are into strength training! Wow! I've been an advocate for decades. I love being strong...
Oh bummer, Jen! Maddy was definitely an edgier character than her usual protagonists but I felt like I wasn’t supposed to love her due to her behaviors. I think I’m just predisposed to love anything Genova writes due to my fascination with her chosen topics :)
Mary Beth wrote: "Wonderful review! 📚🥰 Sorry that this one was a disappointment. Hope you are loving your current read."Thanks MB...still deciding what is up next!
Susan wrote: "Nice review, Jen! I am enjoying it, but I get your point. In my opinion, definitely not her best work."Hope you get more out of it than I did, Susan!
Terrific review Jen! Another book with Taylor Swift references? I’ll take a pass on this one. Hope your next hook is better! 💛
I appreciate your honesty, Jen. I haven't read Genova.
Sorry this one didn’t work out for you, Jen. I hope that your next book will be so much better. 🩵
Barbara wrote: "How disappointing Jen! She's done such great work educating us on neuro-diseases. Hey, I just notice that you are into strength training! Wow! I've been an advocate for decades. I love being strong..."She does educate us on these mental illnesses that I do find value in. Just not this story for me!
Yes, I love it too, Barbara!! Being strong is a powerful thing!
Carolyn wrote: "Oh bummer, Jen! Maddy was definitely an edgier character than her usual protagonists but I felt like I wasn’t supposed to love her due to her behaviors. I think I’m just predisposed to love anythin..."I'm glad you enjoyed it, Carolyn. I thought I did too but I didn't like this character and her choice of comedy just felt lame to me 🤷♀� Obviously a ME thing again!
I suspect I would feel similarly and have not added....thanx Jen
I did love Still Alice� the only book of hers that I’ve read, non of her others enticed me.Great review Jen!
I tried this and didn’t make it far enough to even leave a review. I’m glad to see I made the right decision. Super review.
Awe darn! Sorry it disappointed. Onto a better one ❤️�
Sorry it was a disappointment Jen.
Jen, I loved still Alice and Inside the O’Brien’s, but what bothered you here would probably bother me .Skipping. Thanks.
I haven't read any of Genova's books yet, but I now know I can pass on this one at least. Thank you for your honest thoughts about it. Hope your next read is a 5 star one!
Hmmm. I've had this on my list, but your description might make me think again. I'm not sure I'd enjoy those aspects, either.
I've read only one Lisa Genova book so far (not "Still Alice" which is still in my TBR, but "Every Note Played") and liked it enough. But somehow, I wasn't sure about this book. Reading your thoughts makes me feel like I'd feel the same way. I'm also not a fan of needless sexual references, whether in standup or in bedroom scenes. And the Taylor Swift references would bug me too. I'll take your word and stay away. Thanks for the helpful review, Jen. I hope you love your next book!
I stopped reading her books for exactly the reason you mentioned. They all follow the same formula. I did love Still Alice as everyone did. Great review, Jen.
Suzy wrote: "Terrific review Jen! Another book with Taylor Swift references? I’ll take a pass on this one. Hope your next hook is better! 💛"Yes...the character was younger and was a huge fan....That and the comedian aspirations just didn't jive well for me, Suzy!! But TY😊
Bianca wrote: "I appreciate your honesty, Jen. I haven't read Genova."One Genova I will stand by is Still Alice....and the movie was terrific, Bianca. (with Julianne Moore)
Debbie wrote: "Sorry this one didn’t work out for you, Jen. I hope that your next book will be so much better. 🩵"Thanks Debbie - happy you enjoyed it 😊
Jaidee wrote: "I suspect I would feel similarly and have not added....thanx Jen"🤷♀� It happens! Too many good ones to get to, Jaidee.
Karen wrote: "I did love Still Alice� the only book of hers that I’ve read, non of her others enticed me.Great review Jen!"
I honestly don't think you missed much here given our similar tastes, Karen. Angela did state the O'Brien's was good which I haven't yet read but do own. Oh well...onwards...😊
I brought this one home from the library, started it, but couldn't get into it. I think it's because I have a family member with bipolar illness and know how devastating it can be. Sorry that the book did not work out for you.
Oh no. 😕 Ive only read Still Alice and Every Note Played which were both good imo but I am planning to wait a bit in this one. Hope your current book is working better for you. Wonderful review, Jen!
Liz wrote: "I tried this and didn’t make it far enough to even leave a review. I’m glad to see I made the right decision. Super review."You should have left a review, Liz! I may have reconsidered picking it up...oh well. You did make the right decision IMO. TY!
Thanks Tina & Maureen. Off to better ones for me...😊
Excellent review Jen!🩷
Thanks Tina & Maureen 😊
Angela M wrote: "Jen, I loved still Alice and Inside the O’Brien’s, but what bothered you here would probably bother me .Skipping. Thanks."I'm glad you enjoyed O'Brien's as I do have this own this one. Do take a look at the other reviews...It could be a me thing? Thanks Angela!
K wrote: "I haven't read any of Genova's books yet, but I now know I can pass on this one at least. Thank you for your honest thoughts about it. Hope your next read is a 5 star one!"K, do check out Still Alice - this is a worthy read!
Carmel wrote: "Hmmm. I've had this on my list, but your description might make me think again. I'm not sure I'd enjoy those aspects, either."I didn't enjoy it but for my reasons stated, Carmel. Others have loved it!! So take my thoughts with a grain of salt :)
Rosh wrote: "I've read only one Lisa Genova book so far (not "Still Alice" which is still in my TBR, but "Every Note Played") and liked it enough. But somehow, I wasn't sure about this book. Reading your though..."Thanks Rosh. Still Alice is a good one! Do keep this one on your list! And watch the movie too if you get a chance.
Antoinette wrote: "I stopped reading her books for exactly the reason you mentioned. They all follow the same formula. I did love Still Alice as everyone did. Great review, Jen."Thanks Antoinette. Hard to beat Still Alice!
Holly R W wrote: "I brought this one home from the library, started it, but couldn't get into it. I think it's because I have a family member with bipolar illness and know how devastating it can be. Sorry that the b..."Thanks Holly. It can be tough to bare witness to someone going through it and reading it. I did find that with Still Alice as my dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimers. Sometimes hard to appreciate someone's work when it hits so close to home.
Diana wrote: "Oh no. 😕 Ive only read Still Alice and Every Note Played which were both good imo but I am planning to wait a bit in this one. Hope your current book is working better for you. Wonderful review, Jen!"You may love this one, Diana.....many have 😊
