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tessaays's review against another edition
5.0
Not the kind of book I would usually buy or reach for, but I have a bunch of books on loan from a friend and this was next in line. It was stunning. So tenderly, beautifully written and so restrained - my tolerance for the blurring of the line between difficult subject matter and torture porn is very low these days, but Down absolutely nails it. The characters are gorgeous, crackling with life. I would meet every single one of them for a drink.
jm_donellan's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic debut, a simple but beautiful story of friendship, family, loss and youth. I loved the depictions of Melbourne and Sydney and the way the story slowly unfurled. I look forward to reading more of Down's work in the future.
rikkireads_'s review against another edition
4.0
This was a great *for lack of a better word when book deals with suicide, DV, mental health issues, relationship breakdowns, a chatacter working in child protection and children's oncology...you know...that "great" stuff* book, that explores some of what being in your 20s is like, but like, what it's like if you experience or witness heaps of bad stuff. I enjoyed the writing, I enjoyed the small details, the very strong sense of place (mostly Melbourne, a bit of Sydney), and the general Australian-ness, the range of characters, and the feeling of authenticity - the actions and behaviours of characters didn't always feel appealing or likeable, but they did feel believable.
kazk's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this book over two days, put it down, ran a bath and had a little sob. Watching the main character process her grief by trying to hold together every part of her life and everyone in it was heartbreaking, and the writing really makes you feel like you are there seeing it happen, but from a slight distance. This is a book I'll read again.
el_36's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dancrowley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jessdawson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
amyjanereads's review against another edition
5.0
This book is stunning and raw. I loved every word and immersing myself into the characters lives. I loved experiencing the places they went as they are familiar from my days living in Melbourne. A must read for anyone who has lived in the inner North suburbs of Melbourne
rosannajhunt's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful novel about friendship, love and the aftershock of grief. Once again I was mesmerised by Down’s writing. Liked how Melbourne was such a big part of the book, too.