Reviews

Indigo Donut by Patrice Lawrence

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rebecca_hedger's review

3.0

I liked the characters and the relationship, but I wanted more to happen, and sometimes had to read descriptions a few times before I understood what was being said.

netania's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

Ah, I wanted so much to enjoy Indigo Donut! I usually love this kind of quirky, young adult romance about two people from very different backgrounds connecting, but something about this book just didn't fall into place for me.

We meet Indigo and Bailey - one living with her foster mother after a complex and difficult childhood, and the other relatively privileged yet still an outsider. And I think it was here that the problem really originated: I just didn't like either of them. Bailey was irritatingly weak, with no real sense of morality and a wishy-washy approach to the world. Indigo was hard as nails - and bratty. It's difficult, because they're both teenagers and teenagers aren't supposed to be super mature or even super likable (I was definitely the most horrid teenager in existence) but I just couldn't get on with either of them.

I didn't like the plotline which basically had Bailey lying to Indigo from the word go. Although they clearly had chemistry, I didn't feel that they spent enough time together for it to really flourish into a romance I could root for. I hated the sex scene - they truly did not feel ready for that kind of intensity, and I just wanted to give them both some time to recover from the damage they had put each other through. I thought the plot as a whole was fairly weak - there were so many different strands that no individual one could be given enough attention, such as

Spoiler

the affair Bailey's mother had supposedly been having, which apparently turned out to actually be an affair his father had had

. I didn't really understand why some of these random plot developments were even included - they didn't advance anything any further.

Overall, the book just felt vaguely distasteful to me, and the characters unlikable. Not one I'll be picking up again.

evieomills's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

amysbookishlife's review

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4.0

Great read from start to finish. What I love about Patrice Lawrence is her ability to add realism to her stories. I was hooked from the beginning and loved the blossoming relationship between Indigo and Bailey. The book also touched on important issues such as identity, bullying, love, family, prison and growing up.

Full review over on my blog - http://www.amysbookishlife.co.uk/2017/07/review-indigo-donut-by-patrice-lawrence.html

charlotteebarker's review

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funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

aqilahreads's review

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2.0

Okay.....maybe its just how its written - this one just didnt get to me

katellis's review

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5.0

I really enjoyed this great second novel from Patrice Lawrence. Bailey and Indigo are so easy to like and root for, and their lives and backgrounds so skilfully drawn that they feel totally real.

Ben Bailey Smith reads the audiobook, and was just brilliant; if audio is your preferred format, I can definitely recommend. Indigo is a great follow-up to Orangeboy (also narrated by BBS), and has made Patrice Lawrence an insta-buy author for me.