Reviews

Posy Simmonds drawings are always wonderful and the characters in this book have much more life and interesting features than the boorish white dudes in the recently lauded (shrugs) Sabrina. The story is gripping although it turns dark quite quickly and also quite unbelievably as some 'wrong uns' are suddenly tangled up with Cassandra and her step daughter Nicki who ends up hiding a gun in Cassandra's basement flat in Chelsea. There are some points that the author is keen that we spot about how no one actually lives in the posh Chelsea square where Cassandra is and tries to say that she enjoys the quiet. Another really important point about a young woman who was trafficked for sex work and a violent rapist who targets bars that hold hen nights because there are young drunk women around. I can see what Simmonds is trying to achieve but somehow it doesn't quite work and all these strands feel a bit incongruous and therefore take you out of the story. There is also a lot of text which might upset purists of the form.

kaumlaut's review against another edition

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funny mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

wendoxford's review against another edition

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5.0

I have loved Posy Simmonds since she first lured me into The Guardian back in the day. Times/issues have moved on and so has Simmonds albeit with the same fabulous snarky look at middle class life.
The fabulous drawings are, as ever, beautifully observed, telling Cassandra Darke's tale with the backdrop of homelessness, people trafficking and the art world.
What a fabulous start to the reading year.

sunshine_ghost's review against another edition

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4.0

The illustrations are absolutely wonderful and the story intriguing. It's not often that one reads from the perspective of an unlikeable protagonist, so it was refreshing for that point alone. I found I quite warmed to her by the end and experienced a rather sweet, tearful moment on the last page. Will be seeking more of this author/illustrator.

floriancraft's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

ohnoitsharmony's review against another edition

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4.0

cassandra with her washing up gloves and fur cap... iconic

doobage's review against another edition

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dark funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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