Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
Essentially this book is a cleverly observed and astutely written novel following Nate’s dating life in New York, kind of like a reverse Sex and the City. Nate is a Harvard educated budding professional writer with a penchant for dating an assortment of women and being kind of an asshole, although tries very hard not to be but really can’t help himself. I love the wit and dinner table conversations throughout even though you kind of groan at the pretentiousness of it all. It depicts the millennial elitist culture to a perfect tee. Hard to believe this was written by a woman, she nails it with her insight.
I love everything about this book: the characters, the story, the pacing, the structure, the writing style, the vocabulary! This book is profoundly insightful and entertaining.
I love this book for so many reasons. Through these characters, I gained so much insight into relationships and was surprised to realise how much I had in common with Nate and Hannah.
I also love this book because it makes me aspire to be a better writer.
I love this book for so many reasons. Through these characters, I gained so much insight into relationships and was surprised to realise how much I had in common with Nate and Hannah.
I also love this book because it makes me aspire to be a better writer.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Ugh Nate is such a shit. Men, don't be like Nate! Well-written, but man, did I dislike the main character.
It's funny when I pick up a book that I put on my to-read list awhile back. What triggered 2014 Katie to want to read this? 2018 Katie is so different now, but I suspect that my feelings on this book's topic (dating in NYC) haven't changed much.
This book gave me not-great flashbacks to dating in NYC in the early aughts, the only difference was that we were all poor (except for the investment bankers analysts, who were rich, but worked all day and night). Also, we all had roommates. The honest truth? I wouldn't have given this book a 2nd thought if it were written by a man, so for that - great job to Waldman for taking on this strange creature, the outwardly self-assured, inwardly insecure writer in NYC.
I love that the author put out a related book from Aurit's perspective - I'll def read this.
This book gave me not-great flashbacks to dating in NYC in the early aughts, the only difference was that we were all poor (except for the investment bankers analysts, who were rich, but worked all day and night). Also, we all had roommates. The honest truth? I wouldn't have given this book a 2nd thought if it were written by a man, so for that - great job to Waldman for taking on this strange creature, the outwardly self-assured, inwardly insecure writer in NYC.
I love that the author put out a related book from Aurit's perspective - I'll def read this.
Waldman writes the book from her male main character's POV. It seems that she really got his voice but I found him to be unlikeable. This made me want to finish the book rather than savor it. It's a certain generation, a certain crowd and not something that completely appealed to me. Found the book on Kate Hudson's Instagram and was intrigued. When my 25 y.o. Daughter saw that I was reading it she said she hated the ending. Me, not so much it was par for the course. Probably would have given the book 2 stars but given the writing it definitely deserves an extra. Just not my cup of tea.
"'I feel like you want to think what you're feeling is really deep, like some seriously profound existential shit. But to me, it looks like the most tired, the most average thing in the world, the guy who is all interested in the woman until the very moment when it dawns on him that he has her. Wanting only what you can't have. The affliction of shallow morons everywhere'"
Though there is a distinct lack of plot/action, I still found myself enjoying this book. Sometimes it's just interesting getting inside someone else's head, and this is where we find ourselves with Nathaniel P. We may not always agree with his actions, we may not be rooting for him in the end, but we don't have to. Adelle points out the complexities and misunderstandings of modern romance and life in the 21st Century.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75. Maybe it was because I had heard some not-so-good things from others about this book and therefore was expecting the worst, but I ended up enjoying it. This biggest beef people had with this was their major dislike for the character. Although I certainly didn't love Nate, I did think he was just human and a male and that his actions and thoughts were completely realistic. I thought Waldman's writing was great and engaging despite there not being a full plot-it was a fast read.