Reviews

Paulina & Fran by Rachel B. Glaser

kippersandjam's review against another edition

3.0

a fast read, easy, pretty 'cool' for the young adult crew who can deal with sex scenes. i hated both of the main characters but that's the intention of the author. fairly well written, entertaining on an ironic level, made me roll my eyes a bit. good if you need a quick read to get you out of the funk and you're interested in the NYC hipster scene.

nhazra1's review against another edition

4.0

having a homoerotic obsession with your best friend that spans years and affects all of your other relationships in the world (including your relationship to yourself) is actually peak queer rep.

Spoiler

seeing other reviews not loving how little internal growth paulina goes through by the end of the novel and i think that's the whole point (something something something we grow in relationship and paulina's most meaningful relationship is fran and also absent)

also fucking the same dude to simulate fucking each other and using his bare ass to send messages and meeting places to each other is genius.

lizawall's review against another edition

loved it! thrilling! omg that ending though.

cloudwatcher's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

ashley_choo's review against another edition

4.0

I loved Paulina, the chaotic lonely success that she ended up

aepatton's review against another edition

1.0

Ok I don’t really understand. First of all the whole thing sounds like it’s taking place in the UK instead of US at a uni but it’s not. Odd. And the author isn’t even British. These girls are the most superficial disgustingly privileged people I’ve ever read about. They think they are the funniest most unique girls, the only people who truly know how to live life. Going to the thrift all the time just throwing clothes around. Lol. Am I supposed to think they’re cool and original? Bc I think I would ducking do ANYTHING to avoid them in real life. I’m talking I would scream at them although it wouldn’t get past their thick skulls anyway. It’s a personal MPDG complex and the fact that they both run down whoever they want and judge everyone so so intensely is disgusting. And why do they act like they both miss their friendship? They bonded over nothing but being fucking rich curmudgeons and hung out for a week. And hated each other after. And the ending is so effibg weird. They both won’t ever shut up about their curly hair like it makes them god-like and better than everyone. Even the blurb immediately mentions that. Might I remind you that both of the girls are white and I’m p sure everyone in the book is. Everyone. And then Paulina just randomly starts a curly hair care brand??? Like what???? How. Where are her parents. Who wanted that that badly. Also she goes on and on about how there are no curly hair care products until hers. Um girl what abt black hair care products???? I’m laughing at the sheer idea that she thought she invented that shit. And why do I have the inkling that the author loves these characters. Like girl just say you’re stuck in college and that you idolized the annoying ass rich white girls. Also college students don’t act like them. It’s insane and they’re just dripping with obliviousness and ignorance. Am I supposed to sympathize w anyone in this book? Also why does it randomly change perspectives to minor characters like Julian? I don’t understand. I also don’t understand the jump in time and how the two of them would even want to see each other. And nothing fucking happens. The whole book. I thought it was going to be something sapphic but nope not at all. Why does Julian keep hooking up with both of them? He’s supposed to be in the background but can we acknowledge that it’s weirder on his part than the girls for knowing each other are hooking up with him. Like doesn’t he have a problem w that? Morally perhaps? And he’s always saying he wants one or the other and is always changing his mind. Gross. Thank god for the very very end. The two of them never need to see each other again. Like move tf on.

viewtoakel's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this. I loved seeing bits of me in the characters, because don't we all have a little awfulness in us? An entertaining story about sex, art, debauchery and curls. But mostly about finding a person that will forever be your truest love. Love that makes you do terrible things. Love that makes you feel out of control and afraid. Haunting love that is beautiful, comforting, horrible and unrelenting.

gabedurham's review against another edition

5.0

So playful, quotable, tragic, & fun! And brave for how gamely it takes young people self-obsession seriously without ever wagging a finger. Oh, and and and, the last third or so is probably the best part, and confirms that it's even more ambitious than we might've thought at first.

I read part of the book, lost it, found it, read the rest, on the day I finished on a trip to Boston it my sister's kid's babysitter already knew all about the book, said she'd read the first chapter and really wanted to read the rest. I was impressed because I live in Los Angeles and people don't read books here.

duckyn's review against another edition

4.0

It was difficult to sympathize with the main characters, but overall an interesting read

mias65's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.0