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mickey09's review
slow-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
2.0
Was an ok ish short story, very predictable.
emmajh91's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katyla's review
3.0
fun little story about two women who seek revenge and justice on the man who has been playing them both...
rosechapters03's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bookswithabi's review
2.0
*2.5 stars*
I liked seeing women banding together and supporting one another, rather than turning on each other as is so common in this trope. I was probably the wrong audience for this book, as I think it is targeted at older women, probably those who are married.
I liked seeing women banding together and supporting one another, rather than turning on each other as is so common in this trope. I was probably the wrong audience for this book, as I think it is targeted at older women, probably those who are married.
stefhyena's review
2.0
I got given this book and it did not look at all like something I would normally read. But it was so short (91 pages with a large font) that I thought I would give it a try for relaxation. Relaxation is exactly what it was- it was just funny and wise enough not to be offensive, while being too simple to really take any effort to read. The writing was a lot better than I expected (perhaps partly because of the brevity so we weren't subjected to lingering descriptions of meals or sex nor was there the overwritten angst chick-lit books are often full of.
Blake didn't bother trying to avoid cliches, instead she played with them. I liked Carla from the beginning because she seemed able to see her own flaws and take responsibility and some of her answers to Maggie's more cliched comments were a great way to undercut misogynist patterns that women often participate in. The friendship between the two women was refreshing at first (it waned by the end of the book which became for each of them more about individual "empowerment" than how they supported each other). Sonia was an interesting character, perhaps the brevity of the book once again did her a favour- we are left with a complex dynamic as Blake writes out the original cliche (but doesn't have time and space to do it completely).
Phil is such a cliche, but I love that zero time is wasted on his POV. He is just the bad guy. End of story! The economic aspects of Maggie's "Revenge" (ie how that would impact on her) are ignored and the book is a bit fluffy when it comes to the reality of women's experiences. It also drips with class privilege and consumerism making it's questions and answers mostly shallow. Of course it is heteronormative (I thought it was going to unbalance that briefly but Maggie dreams of "a new man" (p69) and is reassured to find she is normal, that "that side of her hadn't shrivelled up and died" (p83)
So in short the book has all the usual chick-lit flaws but is paced a lot better and has two dynamic heroines that just don't have time for excessive instrospection and angst! If you like your feminism reasonably light-weight then go for it!
Blake didn't bother trying to avoid cliches, instead she played with them. I liked Carla from the beginning because she seemed able to see her own flaws and take responsibility and some of her answers to Maggie's more cliched comments were a great way to undercut misogynist patterns that women often participate in. The friendship between the two women was refreshing at first (it waned by the end of the book which became for each of them more about individual "empowerment" than how they supported each other). Sonia was an interesting character, perhaps the brevity of the book once again did her a favour- we are left with a complex dynamic as Blake writes out the original cliche (but doesn't have time and space to do it completely).
Phil is such a cliche, but I love that zero time is wasted on his POV. He is just the bad guy. End of story! The economic aspects of Maggie's "Revenge" (ie how that would impact on her) are ignored and the book is a bit fluffy when it comes to the reality of women's experiences. It also drips with class privilege and consumerism making it's questions and answers mostly shallow. Of course it is heteronormative (I thought it was going to unbalance that briefly but Maggie dreams of "a new man" (p69) and is reassured to find she is normal, that "that side of her hadn't shrivelled up and died" (p83)
So in short the book has all the usual chick-lit flaws but is paced a lot better and has two dynamic heroines that just don't have time for excessive instrospection and angst! If you like your feminism reasonably light-weight then go for it!
shriyak's review
4.0
I just can't get enough of Quick Reads. Why? Well its a great charity plus I can try out authors and genres which I would never choose.
Good light reading, this is my first book by Fanny Blake, definitely not the last. I enjoyed the feminine reference to beauty and fashion.
However I wish more revenge was done.
Overall a pleasant read!
Good light reading, this is my first book by Fanny Blake, definitely not the last. I enjoyed the feminine reference to beauty and fashion.
However I wish more revenge was done.
Overall a pleasant read!