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casspro's review
3.0
Lulu is a pain in the ass. This novel was frustrating, because its mostly well written and the characters are fully fleshed out and actualized. But Lulu serves as little else than the manic-pixie-dream-girl who needs to be won and coddled and idolized. Even with the big secret revealed at the end of the novel, a move which is meant to endear the reader to Lulu and to excuse her horrid behavior. It's hard to sympathize with a character who mentally and emotionally abuses the protagonist, all in the name of "love" and "best intentions".
With all that being said, it's still a decent read and it kept me occupied during my long nights stuck in traffic. But I won't be buying my own copy anytime soon.
With all that being said, it's still a decent read and it kept me occupied during my long nights stuck in traffic. But I won't be buying my own copy anytime soon.
zozierose's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lurdesabruscato's review
2.0
At first, I was drawn in by this unusual coming-of-age story, with its mixed-up teen narrator who has a truly wacky family and odd insights on life. Then, it felt a bit like a car wreck -- really bad stuff happening but you couldn't look away. And by the end, it just seemed trite: I'd figured out the BIG secret a while before, the characters were ALL losers, and you felt let down and grossed out at the same time.
colorfulleo92's review
3.0
A coming of age story about William who feels like an outcast in his own family, with his mother dead and his dad and brother being bodybuilders and William himself is a vegan. Everything changes when his dad finds someone new and his step sister Lulu comes into the picture and an intense and long lived crush forms and the story begins. It was better then I thought it would be, less crigngy as I feared and with a rather decent story line but I wasn't as in love with the book as William is with Lulu. But it was an good book. 3 or 3.5 stars depending on my mood
niamhbereading's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
THIS BOOK DRIVES ME UP THE WALL INSANE
i just finished my 3rd read of this book & i cried at the end like i just finished it for the 1st time!!! oh my God!! this book is brilliantly written-- almost too brilliantly, bc the main character (will) is an ASSHOLE. i HATE this guy. he should be JAILED for crimes against humanity. this guy STINKS!!!! but jonathan evison is such a witty & touching author that i couldn't help but enjoy every page of this book (even when i was yelling at will). btw the book isn't Bad bc will sucks, i think will being an awful person makes this book AMAZING. will is a wet paper bag of a man i hate him i want to put him under a magnifying glass & examine him. read this book it's great it breaks your mind <3
i just finished my 3rd read of this book & i cried at the end like i just finished it for the 1st time!!! oh my God!! this book is brilliantly written-- almost too brilliantly, bc the main character (will) is an ASSHOLE. i HATE this guy. he should be JAILED for crimes against humanity. this guy STINKS!!!! but jonathan evison is such a witty & touching author that i couldn't help but enjoy every page of this book (even when i was yelling at will). btw the book isn't Bad bc will sucks, i think will being an awful person makes this book AMAZING. will is a wet paper bag of a man i hate him i want to put him under a magnifying glass & examine him. read this book it's great it breaks your mind <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt
kerryanndunn's review
5.0
I'm going to cheat here a little and post the same review I posted for Jonathan's novel on Amazon.com:
Everyone can relate to this wonderfully quirky debut novel from Jonathan Evison. The story speaks with honesty, wistfulness, humor, and sadness to anyone who ever felt like an outcast even within their own family, anyone who remembers the thrill of finding that one person who "gets" them, anyone who felt the flush of first love and the crushing blow of that love disappearing, and to anyone who spent years of anguish resisting change only to finally realize that change is the only constant in life. Mr. Evison found a unique and satisfying voice with which to tell a story filled with compelling characters that you genuinely miss once the story ends. The most surprising thing of all (to this reader anyway) was how "All About Lulu" turned out to be a bit of a mystery with perfect little clues sprinkled along the way leading to one hell of a wham bang, emotional finale. I highly recommend it.
Everyone can relate to this wonderfully quirky debut novel from Jonathan Evison. The story speaks with honesty, wistfulness, humor, and sadness to anyone who ever felt like an outcast even within their own family, anyone who remembers the thrill of finding that one person who "gets" them, anyone who felt the flush of first love and the crushing blow of that love disappearing, and to anyone who spent years of anguish resisting change only to finally realize that change is the only constant in life. Mr. Evison found a unique and satisfying voice with which to tell a story filled with compelling characters that you genuinely miss once the story ends. The most surprising thing of all (to this reader anyway) was how "All About Lulu" turned out to be a bit of a mystery with perfect little clues sprinkled along the way leading to one hell of a wham bang, emotional finale. I highly recommend it.
robinsbooks's review
4.0
Calling this a coming-of-age novel seems like a simplification because William has to go through some pretty heavy stuff to arrive at maturity, but I loved this novel with its quirky characters and heart-breaking scenes. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for a book group selection, and John Irving fans might want to give it a try. It's also a great book for older teen boys providing you can get them to read something that appears to be a chick book, but maybe they can be convinced by mentioning that Lulu is pretty hot.
tarshly's review
2.0
Kinda funny, really weird.
Even if they weren't half siblings, they still grew up together in the same house as siblings. It should have been nipped in the bud regardless.
And just to nitpick... marshmallows and Jell-O aren't vegetarian, and I can't imagine Hegel and Wittgenstein being taught in an introductory philosophy class. I had never even heard of Hegel until my senior seminar.
Even if they weren't half siblings, they still grew up together in the same house as siblings. It should have been nipped in the bud regardless.
And just to nitpick... marshmallows and Jell-O aren't vegetarian, and I can't imagine Hegel and Wittgenstein being taught in an introductory philosophy class. I had never even heard of Hegel until my senior seminar.
proof_of_magic's review
2.0
Where do I start. I found this book at home. It was my mother in law's, I wanted something to read, the cover looked nice, the first few pages seemed interesting, and the plot sounded okay.
Gosh, not the case.
Every. Single. Character. in this book is so dreadfully unlikeable. Will, obsessed with his sister, does nothing but contemplate her existence, does everything he can think of to hurt her, yet he "loves" her.
Lulu, so full of self contempt she can't even function like a normal person.
The twins. Ugh.
Big Bill....just no.
I couldn't do it. The whole book is just a downer. It's depressing. Mostly in part to, like I said, the characters! They're all so pathetic that you can't really even see some hope for them.
I didn't even take the time to finish this book. Complete waste of time. I finally just skipped to the end, found out Lulu had sex with Will, WHO turned out to be her half brother after all, and got pregnant (if I remember correctly)
This book is everything I hate in a book.
Gosh, not the case.
Every. Single. Character. in this book is so dreadfully unlikeable. Will, obsessed with his sister, does nothing but contemplate her existence, does everything he can think of to hurt her, yet he "loves" her.
Lulu, so full of self contempt she can't even function like a normal person.
The twins. Ugh.
Big Bill....just no.
I couldn't do it. The whole book is just a downer. It's depressing. Mostly in part to, like I said, the characters! They're all so pathetic that you can't really even see some hope for them.
I didn't even take the time to finish this book. Complete waste of time. I finally just skipped to the end, found out Lulu had sex with Will, WHO turned out to be her half brother after all, and got pregnant (if I remember correctly)
This book is everything I hate in a book.