What do you think?
Rate this book
Loner
Lona, a cynical, introverted artist and part-time roller-DJ, traverses life’s sorrows and joys in this heartfelt look at new adulthood.
Set in Melbourne, Loner is a humorous and heartfelt exploration of new adulthood. Lona kills her days by sneaking into the dark room at her old art school to develop photographs. She kills her nights DJ-ing the roller disco at Planet Skate. She is in inexplicably, debilitatingly love with a bespectacled Doctor Who-obsessed former classmate, and in comfortable, platonic love with her best friend Tab. Lona works hard to portray a permanent attitude of cynicism and ennui but will her carefully constructed persona be enough to protect her from the inevitable sorrows and unexpected joys of adult life? Loner re-examines notions of social isolation experienced by young people, suggesting sometimes our own company can be a choice and not a failing.
Set in Melbourne, Loner is a humorous and heartfelt exploration of new adulthood. Lona kills her days by sneaking into the dark room at her old art school to develop photographs. She kills her nights DJ-ing the roller disco at Planet Skate. She is in inexplicably, debilitatingly love with a bespectacled Doctor Who-obsessed former classmate, and in comfortable, platonic love with her best friend Tab. Lona works hard to portray a permanent attitude of cynicism and ennui but will her carefully constructed persona be enough to protect her from the inevitable sorrows and unexpected joys of adult life? Loner re-examines notions of social isolation experienced by young people, suggesting sometimes our own company can be a choice and not a failing.
247 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2020
25 people are currently reading
1286 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
January 21, 2022
equal parts boring and equal parts relatable
- the lack of direction and plot might be a major turn off for most of the people but in a way the story potrayed a realistic scenario where the character don't know where life is taking them. Real life doesn't have a plot or a begining and definitely not an ending.
- I connected with Lona on many levels like her love for books, her introvert nature, her nerdiness about movies and shows and music. How she don't care about anything but at the same time is sensitive. I personally really enjoyed reading about her.
- Though this book was short but it had an impact on me and at the end I was asking for more maybe a few more chapters.
- Georgian Young has a flair of writing she can capture the untold scenario and feelings perfectly like at times I felt she is directly talking to me.
- a personal punch, when I read this book 6 months ago, I was facing somewhat same thing Lona was going through, a direction less life where each day just passes by and you don't what you are doing. I am happy that I have started working towards my goal now and I am happy with the person I am becoming.
- the lack of direction and plot might be a major turn off for most of the people but in a way the story potrayed a realistic scenario where the character don't know where life is taking them. Real life doesn't have a plot or a begining and definitely not an ending.
- I connected with Lona on many levels like her love for books, her introvert nature, her nerdiness about movies and shows and music. How she don't care about anything but at the same time is sensitive. I personally really enjoyed reading about her.
- Though this book was short but it had an impact on me and at the end I was asking for more maybe a few more chapters.
- Georgian Young has a flair of writing she can capture the untold scenario and feelings perfectly like at times I felt she is directly talking to me.
- a personal punch, when I read this book 6 months ago, I was facing somewhat same thing Lona was going through, a direction less life where each day just passes by and you don't what you are doing. I am happy that I have started working towards my goal now and I am happy with the person I am becoming.
September 2, 2020
This was one was really enjoyable to read, mainly because it has short, sharp chapters, with short, sharp sentences and dialogue that I feel worked really well with the story and made it all the more meaningful. It's a realistic depiction of a 20 something year old girl trying to work out what she wants out of life and trying to work out the answer to the question: "what is the point?" Lona was an interesting and unique main character; I felt for her at times because I related to her in more ways than one, not just in the way she was feeling and expressing those feelings, but also where the book itself was set (in Melbourne which is my home city). I liked the relationship of Lona and her best friend Tab. That was also relatable in terms of friendships and trying to be the best versions of yourself but still being there for each other when a friend is needed most. In terms of the themes and writing, I would classify this one was a new adult book, rather than a young adult. The ending I thought was a little rushed and I wanted it to be a bit more rounded and conclusive and stable, but that aside, everything else I thoroughly enjoyed.
Read
October 22, 2021The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Loner
'Georgina Young's fresh voice and careful writing about everyday characters made me feel instantly at home. Read Loner and feel seen, feel hope and be entertained—whatever your age. Young shines.’
Alice Bishop
‘I loved this razor-sharp, whip-smart, exquisitely funny debut.’
Nina Kenwood
‘Reading Loner was like reading about a younger me: going to art school, dating the wrong people, living in my first sharehouse, making questionable hair decisions, fallouts with friends, going to pretentious hipster cafes, getting lost in Chadstone, waiting for the delayed Pakenham-line train, experiencing my first love and heartbreak, and worrying so much about seeming cool and unbothered. Loner is a convincing snapshot of what it is like to be a young artist and not knowing what the hell you want to do with the rest of your life.’
Frances Cannon
‘Loner is a very clever, unconventional and hilarious coming-of-age story. I loved it!’
Eliza Henry-Jones
‘Georgina Young made me squirm and swoon and sigh as I fell head over heels for the exquisite paradoxes of her protagonist. Lona wonders why she can never say exactly the thing she means—lucky for us, we have Young, and she articulates all those things with smarts and humour and grace. This is a book to push into the hands of everyone you know, especially those who ever had trouble knowing themselves.’
Kate Mildenhall
‘A compassionate and clever story for dropouts and screw-ups. Georgina Young has bottled the fears and feelings of every young woman who has had to learn to stop hiding inside herself.’
Brodie Lancaster
‘A portrait of a particular state of mind at a particular time of life.’
Age
‘Wry, funny and witty…A grown-up version of Daria.’
Big Issue
‘Lona is a relatable and engaging character, socially maladroit but funny and spirited...Loner canvasses the various dramas of friendship, romance, and family with insight and wry humour.’
Australian Book Review
‘An enjoyable romp…that relishes in the complexities of interpersonal relationships.’
Farrago
‘This book has humour in unexpected places.’
3CR
‘Loner is a smart and funny novel that perfectly captures the uncertainties and awkwardness of being a young adult… Georgina Young’s protagonist, Lona, is smart-alecky, wry and ever so relatable.’
Big Issue
'Lona examines the minutiae of her life and the people in it with sharp clarity, endearing honesty, dry humour and a vivid peppering of literature and pop culture references, laying bare the contradictions of her existence...This debut novel is memorable because of the spiky, intelligent, honest, witty, exasperating and endearing voice of Lona. Cleverly written, in short sharp chapters, it captures the false bravado, the awkwardness, the misunderstandings, the inability to say how you feel: it is a snapshot of what life is like for so many late teens and 20-somethings, who are beset with anxiety, aimlessness, unable to move forward or move back. The novel leaves you wanting Lona to see, in the best possible way, that she really is on the path to become her full creative, idiosyncratic self.’
Judges’ comments, Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2021 (shortlisted)
'Georgina Young's fresh voice and careful writing about everyday characters made me feel instantly at home. Read Loner and feel seen, feel hope and be entertained—whatever your age. Young shines.’
Alice Bishop
‘I loved this razor-sharp, whip-smart, exquisitely funny debut.’
Nina Kenwood
‘Reading Loner was like reading about a younger me: going to art school, dating the wrong people, living in my first sharehouse, making questionable hair decisions, fallouts with friends, going to pretentious hipster cafes, getting lost in Chadstone, waiting for the delayed Pakenham-line train, experiencing my first love and heartbreak, and worrying so much about seeming cool and unbothered. Loner is a convincing snapshot of what it is like to be a young artist and not knowing what the hell you want to do with the rest of your life.’
Frances Cannon
‘Loner is a very clever, unconventional and hilarious coming-of-age story. I loved it!’
Eliza Henry-Jones
‘Georgina Young made me squirm and swoon and sigh as I fell head over heels for the exquisite paradoxes of her protagonist. Lona wonders why she can never say exactly the thing she means—lucky for us, we have Young, and she articulates all those things with smarts and humour and grace. This is a book to push into the hands of everyone you know, especially those who ever had trouble knowing themselves.’
Kate Mildenhall
‘A compassionate and clever story for dropouts and screw-ups. Georgina Young has bottled the fears and feelings of every young woman who has had to learn to stop hiding inside herself.’
Brodie Lancaster
‘A portrait of a particular state of mind at a particular time of life.’
Age
‘Wry, funny and witty…A grown-up version of Daria.’
Big Issue
‘Lona is a relatable and engaging character, socially maladroit but funny and spirited...Loner canvasses the various dramas of friendship, romance, and family with insight and wry humour.’
Australian Book Review
‘An enjoyable romp…that relishes in the complexities of interpersonal relationships.’
Farrago
‘This book has humour in unexpected places.’
3CR
‘Loner is a smart and funny novel that perfectly captures the uncertainties and awkwardness of being a young adult… Georgina Young’s protagonist, Lona, is smart-alecky, wry and ever so relatable.’
Big Issue
'Lona examines the minutiae of her life and the people in it with sharp clarity, endearing honesty, dry humour and a vivid peppering of literature and pop culture references, laying bare the contradictions of her existence...This debut novel is memorable because of the spiky, intelligent, honest, witty, exasperating and endearing voice of Lona. Cleverly written, in short sharp chapters, it captures the false bravado, the awkwardness, the misunderstandings, the inability to say how you feel: it is a snapshot of what life is like for so many late teens and 20-somethings, who are beset with anxiety, aimlessness, unable to move forward or move back. The novel leaves you wanting Lona to see, in the best possible way, that she really is on the path to become her full creative, idiosyncratic self.’
Judges’ comments, Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2021 (shortlisted)
August 9, 2020
In short, sharp chapters, Loner explores some lofty stuff – what is Art(TM)? What’s the difference between being lonely and being alone? How should we navigate “growing up”? But Young uses a light touch, examining the anxieties and complexities of contemporary youth in a way that feels realistic and grounded. Loner lands in that liminal space between Young Adult and Adult-Adult, the millennial love-child of John Green and Sally Rooney. It’s a novel that will make all young Australian introverts feel seen, and appreciated.
An extended review of Loner is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
An extended review of Loner is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
November 22, 2020
Great read! Fun, observant, witty and tragically SO relatable. Lona is a art school drop out looking for meaning in her life instead she spirals into an existential crisis and decides doing nothing is more her jam, anything to avoid people and awkward social situations. Most of her time she spends avoiding any real conversations about feelings or talking about why she dropped out of her uni course. I enjoyed this book so much and even though nothing significant happens that’s precisely what I loved about it, it’s all about LONA I loved every inner thought and her way of expressing them just made me feel all her feelings! Also loved all the pop culture references. A refreshing new voice, so good!
June 25, 2020
•I’ve received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review•
“It’s the simple fact that Lona has always done well, but doing well has done nothing for her.”
Wow what can I say? I love this book.
I was already drawn to it by the plot and the cover (which is lovely), but I was surely more impressed by the books itself after reading it.
First I liked how the title “Loner” resembles the name of the main character “Lona”.
The writing is not for everyone, it is very descriptive, short sentences with a few dialogues here and there, but the books is mostly based on describing things, surroundings, Lona’s state and feelings. Personally I loved how it was written, some sentences were written with such a simplicity that in my opinion gave them even more meaning, I really enjoyed Young’s writing style so if she will publish something else in the future I’m most likely going to buy it.
The book in its entirety reminded me of Normal People or Sally Rooney in general, so if you liked that one I suggest you to give a shot to Loner as well.
The book is so realistic that sometimes I felt like I was the one narrating everything.
I also felt really attached to Lona, she’s a pretty unique character with many facets that is basically impossibile to not feel like being her in at least on part of the book.
Lona is the perfect example of a 20 year old person going through the difficulties and anxieties of the pre adulthood. And as someone who felt confused and lost interested in things that I used to love, Lona somehow reminded me of myself, so I guess that’s a bonus.
I’m going to end this review with some quotes that I really liked from the book (please note that the quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change):
“Lona became someone who was interested in pretending not to be interested in boys.”
“Dad and Grandpa are at either end of the table due to the patriarchal structure of society.”
“But the getting out of the hose is the hard thing. The making herself the person she is for everyone else is the painful thing.”
3.8 stars
“It’s the simple fact that Lona has always done well, but doing well has done nothing for her.”
Wow what can I say? I love this book.
I was already drawn to it by the plot and the cover (which is lovely), but I was surely more impressed by the books itself after reading it.
First I liked how the title “Loner” resembles the name of the main character “Lona”.
The writing is not for everyone, it is very descriptive, short sentences with a few dialogues here and there, but the books is mostly based on describing things, surroundings, Lona’s state and feelings. Personally I loved how it was written, some sentences were written with such a simplicity that in my opinion gave them even more meaning, I really enjoyed Young’s writing style so if she will publish something else in the future I’m most likely going to buy it.
The book in its entirety reminded me of Normal People or Sally Rooney in general, so if you liked that one I suggest you to give a shot to Loner as well.
The book is so realistic that sometimes I felt like I was the one narrating everything.
I also felt really attached to Lona, she’s a pretty unique character with many facets that is basically impossibile to not feel like being her in at least on part of the book.
Lona is the perfect example of a 20 year old person going through the difficulties and anxieties of the pre adulthood. And as someone who felt confused and lost interested in things that I used to love, Lona somehow reminded me of myself, so I guess that’s a bonus.
I’m going to end this review with some quotes that I really liked from the book (please note that the quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change):
“Lona became someone who was interested in pretending not to be interested in boys.”
“Dad and Grandpa are at either end of the table due to the patriarchal structure of society.”
“But the getting out of the hose is the hard thing. The making herself the person she is for everyone else is the painful thing.”
3.8 stars
April 19, 2020
Loner is new adult fiction about a young woman who loses confidence in herself, her ability to make art (or anything really) and is crushed by existential angst. Things are bad for her at the start of the book but they have to get much worse before she can find some semblance of herself again. I’ve never been drawn to this kind of narrative and it’s why I disliked Queenie so much. But Young does a wonderful job at representing very real just turned 20 year olds and their anxieties. She brings young love to life beautifully and with a light touch that I really appreciated. There will be Rooney comparisons and I can understand why but I have vowed to never make them.
June 30, 2020
This review can be found on my blog, here.
[This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review.]
This book tells the story of a young, cynical woman named Lona, who has only just discovered everything she believed she wanted is not really what she wants. Like many women at this age, she has just ended high school and is attempting to decide what to do now. Though she has lost all hope that the after part holds any meaning to her life or the world itself. Thus, she is now roaming through her life with constant indecision, partial self-reflection, and no exact goal to guide her out of this limbo.
To describe Lona would be like requesting me to explain why the sky is blue. Lona is a unique personality, an acquired taste if I am to be honest. She doesn't care about anyone except her best friend and then some of her family who comes next. Therefore, she spends little time getting to know those around her. Not even the boy or boy(s) she likes. However, she constantly finds herself in this place between wanting to be herself, but also want to be what others expect her to be. The sad thing is, Lona doesn't know what she desires to be but she knows what she doesn't want to be. Which already propels her further than me when I first left high school. This places her a few less than pleasant situations that while hard, she needs experience in. This entire book is an insight into things that happens with young women every day.
I don't want to give too much away, but this is such an extraordinary book. I will admit that at the start of the story I was very hesitant about the writing style. I will not spoil it for those considering this book, but the writing is not like any I have ever read. Frequently I feel like I am missing pieces of the story due to the chosen form of writing. However, the more I read I feel like the format was precisely chosen to reflect on Lona and how she perceives the world. Thankfully, the formatting does not take away from the story. It instead, just makes me wish I had more to read. The leading character feels so realistic that my kindle has over 50 highlights of things that I loved or agreed with. I related so much to Lona that I almost felt like this book was exclusively written about me a few times. That's what makes this book so much fun to read. I feel like I'm apart of her world and comprehend why she does the things she does. I believe anyone will identify parts of themselves in Lona because in my mind she's not a fictional character. I'm merely reading the diary of the typical everyday young woman. The book depicts situations and thoughts we have all had at one point or another and I love the insight on how Lona specially deals with this.
The humor is the second reason I enjoy this book. It has been so long since I have laughed out loud at something I read in a book. I wish I could provide an example here to give you an idea, but I don't want to ruin it. I highly encourage you all to give this book a chance and I guarantee you won't regret it. Lona is hilarious, selfish, honest, blunt, creative, and just an extremely fascinating person. Someone I'd appreciate getting to know even if she doesn't want to get to know me!
April 8, 2022
I read this at the perfect time, it was exactly what I needed. A book about feeling sad and tired and lonely and lost but trying. YA but it didn’t really feel like it. Melbourne. Familiar. Like a hug. Like curling up in a cuddly blanket on a nice cold day. Lona reminds me of someone I once knew. A protagonist who so easily could have irritated me but Georgina made it impossible not to love her. 4.5
February 1, 2021
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Lona was lost and adrift. Disenchanted with following the expected path to adulthood via university, she dropped out, but for what? She honestly had no idea. This book was about Lona's struggles as she was forced to take that leap from adolescence to adulthood, while also trying to figure out who she was and where she fit in.
I am not totally sure how to articulate my feelings about this book, but I will say, I was fully engrossed in this slice-of-life tale. I was immediately drawn to Lona. Her wry and honest inner monologues and observations often made me chuckle, but it was her thoughts on being a loner and lonely that really had me nodding my head.
Lona was a massive introvert, who also sounded like she suffered from a bit of social anxiety. So, we were kindred spirits. There were these times where she talked about needing to be alone while not wanting to be alone that I related to so hard. That, and when she talked about how exhausting it was to socialize. How hard it was to wear a mask and hide those uglier pieces of yourself from everyone. It was like she was reading my mind. And, how could I not love a girl, who pulls out a book at any given time and would be happy if people would just talk about books with her?
For me, this story was about Lona's journey as she tried to figure out who Lona-the-adult was. Throughout the book, she kept trying to find the "adult" things that fit. Getting a job, moving out of her parents' home, embarking on a romantic relationship -- these were all new experiences for her. There were hits and misses, well, mostly misses, if we're being honest, but they all were part of her journey of self-discovery.
This was an honest look at that space in-between youth and adulthood, which I really enjoyed. I would have liked more from the ending, though it was not definitive, I guess it was hopeful. Either way, I absolutely adored the time I spent with Lona and in her head. I was laughing, feeling, nodding in agreement, sometimes doing all three at the same time, and I loved every second of it.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Lona was lost and adrift. Disenchanted with following the expected path to adulthood via university, she dropped out, but for what? She honestly had no idea. This book was about Lona's struggles as she was forced to take that leap from adolescence to adulthood, while also trying to figure out who she was and where she fit in.
Lona wants to know what the rules are, the rules to being an adult.
I am not totally sure how to articulate my feelings about this book, but I will say, I was fully engrossed in this slice-of-life tale. I was immediately drawn to Lona. Her wry and honest inner monologues and observations often made me chuckle, but it was her thoughts on being a loner and lonely that really had me nodding my head.
But the getting out of the house is the hard thing. The making herself the person she is for everyone else is the painful thing.
Lona was a massive introvert, who also sounded like she suffered from a bit of social anxiety. So, we were kindred spirits. There were these times where she talked about needing to be alone while not wanting to be alone that I related to so hard. That, and when she talked about how exhausting it was to socialize. How hard it was to wear a mask and hide those uglier pieces of yourself from everyone. It was like she was reading my mind. And, how could I not love a girl, who pulls out a book at any given time and would be happy if people would just talk about books with her?
It's the boringness of talking about other people instead of books and television.
For me, this story was about Lona's journey as she tried to figure out who Lona-the-adult was. Throughout the book, she kept trying to find the "adult" things that fit. Getting a job, moving out of her parents' home, embarking on a romantic relationship -- these were all new experiences for her. There were hits and misses, well, mostly misses, if we're being honest, but they all were part of her journey of self-discovery.
Being the contacted means feeling wanted, whereas there is always an inherent neediness and selfconsciousness to being the contacter.
This was an honest look at that space in-between youth and adulthood, which I really enjoyed. I would have liked more from the ending, though it was not definitive, I guess it was hopeful. Either way, I absolutely adored the time I spent with Lona and in her head. I was laughing, feeling, nodding in agreement, sometimes doing all three at the same time, and I loved every second of it.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
September 1, 2020
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Text Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. Loner by Georgina Young comes out on the 9th February, 2021.
Loner follows Lona- a 20 y/o art school dropout who works at two crappy minimum-wage jobs and lives behind a curtain in the living room with two roommates who she barely knows and is just generally directionless about her future. As she travels the murky waters of adulthood we get acquainted with different parts of her life, romantic ones and familial ones, and also her never-ending anxiety.
I really enjoyed Georgina Young’s writing style. I feel like she captured that untethered feeling where you know you aren’t a kid anymore but you still haven’t found your way as an adult, yet all of the decisions you make are now your responsibility; Young perfectly captured this confounding feeling, that I myself tend to experience quite often.
It seems like the sections in the book would jump from one thing to the next without a clear transition. The complete lack of a plot was a bit boring and hard to get into at first, but I’ll give that a pass because this book is a realistic story, as I realized later. Real life doesn’t have a plot, or a neat beginning and an ending.
What’s interesting about this book is the comprehensive look into the main character i.e. Lona. I found myself connecting with Lona on multiple levels and honestly, loving her-
1. She lives and breathes for books (YAY!)
2. Mentions a lot of music and bands
3. Everything relates to a tv show or movie
4. She is awkward AF and a total introvert
5. Comfort eater
But most importantly, she likes to be alone a lot but she cares very deeply for her best friend though she isn’t the best at keeping up relationships. Girl, relate.
Young did a great job of writing realistically and Loner will be very relatable to anyone who has ever felt lost or confused by what they want in life.
This book really warmed my heart, especially the ending. I would recommend this to anyone who is a bit of an introvert or a nerd, and if you’re in your 20s, trying to navigate through life.
Loner follows Lona- a 20 y/o art school dropout who works at two crappy minimum-wage jobs and lives behind a curtain in the living room with two roommates who she barely knows and is just generally directionless about her future. As she travels the murky waters of adulthood we get acquainted with different parts of her life, romantic ones and familial ones, and also her never-ending anxiety.
I really enjoyed Georgina Young’s writing style. I feel like she captured that untethered feeling where you know you aren’t a kid anymore but you still haven’t found your way as an adult, yet all of the decisions you make are now your responsibility; Young perfectly captured this confounding feeling, that I myself tend to experience quite often.
It seems like the sections in the book would jump from one thing to the next without a clear transition. The complete lack of a plot was a bit boring and hard to get into at first, but I’ll give that a pass because this book is a realistic story, as I realized later. Real life doesn’t have a plot, or a neat beginning and an ending.
What’s interesting about this book is the comprehensive look into the main character i.e. Lona. I found myself connecting with Lona on multiple levels and honestly, loving her-
1. She lives and breathes for books (YAY!)
2. Mentions a lot of music and bands
3. Everything relates to a tv show or movie
4. She is awkward AF and a total introvert
5. Comfort eater
But most importantly, she likes to be alone a lot but she cares very deeply for her best friend though she isn’t the best at keeping up relationships. Girl, relate.
Young did a great job of writing realistically and Loner will be very relatable to anyone who has ever felt lost or confused by what they want in life.
This book really warmed my heart, especially the ending. I would recommend this to anyone who is a bit of an introvert or a nerd, and if you’re in your 20s, trying to navigate through life.
May 22, 2020
**I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion**
I actually really enjoyed this new young adult read. I found myself connecting with the main character, Lona, on multiple levels. Young did a great job of writing realistically and Loner will be very relatable to anyone who has ever felt lost or confused by what they want in life. Diving into adulthood is difficult when you have no clear direction, and maintaining relationships is hard when you cannot even fully explain to yourself your desire to be social without having to be social. I found the style of Young's writing to work well with Lona's personality, almost like a collection of vignettes rather than chapters. Since this is an Australian book, there were a few terms that confused me, but nothing a quick Google couldn't fix--they did not take away from my understanding of the story. I only knocked down a star because I personally prefer clear endings. The ending did, however, fit the overall feel of the book.
I actually really enjoyed this new young adult read. I found myself connecting with the main character, Lona, on multiple levels. Young did a great job of writing realistically and Loner will be very relatable to anyone who has ever felt lost or confused by what they want in life. Diving into adulthood is difficult when you have no clear direction, and maintaining relationships is hard when you cannot even fully explain to yourself your desire to be social without having to be social. I found the style of Young's writing to work well with Lona's personality, almost like a collection of vignettes rather than chapters. Since this is an Australian book, there were a few terms that confused me, but nothing a quick Google couldn't fix--they did not take away from my understanding of the story. I only knocked down a star because I personally prefer clear endings. The ending did, however, fit the overall feel of the book.
January 19, 2021
i found some bits of this book relatable, but as the main character says, what's the point?
content/trigger warnings; ableism, transphobia, hospitals, sick loved one, kissing, non-explicit sexual content, car crash,
i don't know what the point of the book is and i don't know why any character did any of the things they did. nothing is explained or resolved. there are things that are hinted at but never directly dealt with. there is no character growth. nothing happens. it has one of those "seriously? that's the end?" endings.
what's the point?
content/trigger warnings; ableism, transphobia, hospitals, sick loved one, kissing, non-explicit sexual content, car crash,
i don't know what the point of the book is and i don't know why any character did any of the things they did. nothing is explained or resolved. there are things that are hinted at but never directly dealt with. there is no character growth. nothing happens. it has one of those "seriously? that's the end?" endings.
what's the point?
January 1, 2022
MC IS DEPRESSED AS FUCK and it's just like never even mentioned. This book was equally interesting and horrifying because it was like it was written about 20 year old, directionless, depressed, uni drop out me. This was my last book of 2021 and I'm annoyed I am just a few books short of reaching my reading goal!! I blame all the books I started and then DNF before 20%. I don't know if I couldn't finish so many books because of attention span issues or because I just read a lot of shit books. Oh well, happy new year!
April 18, 2022
Reading Loner is how I suspect other people feel when they’re reading Sally Rooney.
Told in short chapters, Georgina Young examines what it’s like to be in your early 20s, with absolutely no idea what to do with your life and watching everyone around you seemingly have it together.
Adding to the charm of the novel is the Melbourne setting. I loved how Australian this book is and it served as a reminder that I really need to read more Aussie authors.
Would recommend for fans of Sally Rooney and those looking for a “bridging” novel between YA and adult fiction.
Told in short chapters, Georgina Young examines what it’s like to be in your early 20s, with absolutely no idea what to do with your life and watching everyone around you seemingly have it together.
Adding to the charm of the novel is the Melbourne setting. I loved how Australian this book is and it served as a reminder that I really need to read more Aussie authors.
Would recommend for fans of Sally Rooney and those looking for a “bridging” novel between YA and adult fiction.
November 27, 2022
lately there’s just something about me and a book about a weird young adult woman figuring their shit out !!! I’m gonna eat it up everytime!!
“When Lona says “this is so great” she’s trying to articulate that she cannot even comprehend this evening and what it means to feel big big love for a concept instead of a thing that has the capacity to love you back” is literally me, I have finally found the words to describe how I can not put my emotions about concerts/things I love into words lmao
I loved her and George soooo much and I wish they stayed together 😭
“When Lona says “this is so great” she’s trying to articulate that she cannot even comprehend this evening and what it means to feel big big love for a concept instead of a thing that has the capacity to love you back” is literally me, I have finally found the words to describe how I can not put my emotions about concerts/things I love into words lmao
I loved her and George soooo much and I wish they stayed together 😭
November 9, 2020
A lovely little book! Perfect intersection between teen fiction and adult fiction, great for the 20-something crowd.
I really love this 'reserved-MC x crazy-confident-best-friend' friend dynamic. It's always reminded me of myself and my friends, and always makes for some good storytelling!
I really love this 'reserved-MC x crazy-confident-best-friend' friend dynamic. It's always reminded me of myself and my friends, and always makes for some good storytelling!
April 12, 2021
A light, but very enjoyable read! I like the messages in this book — that you can forge your own path through life and that being happy in yourself is the most important thing.
June 28, 2020
3.75 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 5 February 2021 .
Lona has dropped out of uni, is living with her parents, and still working her high school job at the local skating rink. Meanwhile all her friends are still in uni and moving on with their lives. But Lona doesn’t care. She doesn’t really see the point in finishing her art degree. After all, what is she going to do but create art anyway.
Lona’s mother disagrees. If Lona isn’t going to uni, she can find a real job and start paying rent. So Lona moves out with two friends from uni, living behind a curtain in the living room and paying a bit less. Her best friend Tab is still at uni and has a new boyfriend that she is smitten with. The boyfriend Nick is all about double dating, so they fix Lona up with George. Now Lona is smitten. George is a med student and in a band.
Still, with all this Lona is still happier being on her own reading or watching Buffy (yes, the vampire slayer.) Lona is on a dead end road working at the grocery store, not making art, and barely making ends meet. Until her grandpa is hospitalized. And somehow that is a turning point for Lona.
Melbourne, Australia is the setting for this novel. Lona is somewhat likeable, since in a lot of ways, I empathize with her. Staying home and reading or binge watching Netflix is part of our lives now. Lona also prefers her own company and finds being with others exhausting - the true sign of an introvert. Young definitely conveys Lona’s aimlessness, the aimlessness of a lot of recent high school grads. However, there was very little growth in Lona’s character during the book.
Still, I feel that it was an enjoyable read. The short, brief chapters were a nice change from the last book I read. I appreciated the quirkiness of both Lona and the other characters. Nothing rote about them at all.
Lona has dropped out of uni, is living with her parents, and still working her high school job at the local skating rink. Meanwhile all her friends are still in uni and moving on with their lives. But Lona doesn’t care. She doesn’t really see the point in finishing her art degree. After all, what is she going to do but create art anyway.
Lona’s mother disagrees. If Lona isn’t going to uni, she can find a real job and start paying rent. So Lona moves out with two friends from uni, living behind a curtain in the living room and paying a bit less. Her best friend Tab is still at uni and has a new boyfriend that she is smitten with. The boyfriend Nick is all about double dating, so they fix Lona up with George. Now Lona is smitten. George is a med student and in a band.
Still, with all this Lona is still happier being on her own reading or watching Buffy (yes, the vampire slayer.) Lona is on a dead end road working at the grocery store, not making art, and barely making ends meet. Until her grandpa is hospitalized. And somehow that is a turning point for Lona.
Melbourne, Australia is the setting for this novel. Lona is somewhat likeable, since in a lot of ways, I empathize with her. Staying home and reading or binge watching Netflix is part of our lives now. Lona also prefers her own company and finds being with others exhausting - the true sign of an introvert. Young definitely conveys Lona’s aimlessness, the aimlessness of a lot of recent high school grads. However, there was very little growth in Lona’s character during the book.
Still, I feel that it was an enjoyable read. The short, brief chapters were a nice change from the last book I read. I appreciated the quirkiness of both Lona and the other characters. Nothing rote about them at all.
June 7, 2020
** Received a free ARC copy of this for an honest review from NetGalley **
Firstly, thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC. As this is an ARC, many things can change from the version I’ve received, and so I can only base my review on that and not the published book due out in February 2021.
I’ve rated this book three stars, as I enjoyed reading it—but only for the most part. I feel the story primarily being told from Lona’s point of view is good, but due to her inner thoughts we get a clunky idea of her friends and family dynamic.
She seems to have anxiety, (that at least is mentioned) but we see no one in her life bringing it up except fleetingly by George who acknowledges it. It would have been nice for Lona to act upon her own admission of her anxiety as she even realises she often cannot cope with emotions and things.
There was a real interesting development between Tab and Lona that I feel ultimately went nowhere other than Tab leaving university, but her ‘disappearance’ and odd behaviour isn’t mentioned other than that. I understand this is from Lona’s POV, but it would have at least felt like the plot had come full circle, like the ending did.
I did love that Lona started at the skate and ended there. I loved that she herself was constantly, mind the pun, skating around it all the time, never really wanting to give it up as it was, in some ways, the centre of her. Her beginning to paint and turn the books into her own art was beautiful, but I wish this had been more fleshed out, understanding what her future intentions are.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing style of this author. I liked their tone and the voicing for Lona, but there were times I wasn’t sure what the purpose of the story was, not knowing why I’m following Lona and what will be gained from it. I found myself feeling the same at the end, especially with the phone ringing and not knowing whether it would be good news or bad at the other end. I also think whilst I enjoyed the tone and character of Lona, I’m not sure what path she was in to begin with, as it’s hard to tell if she’s lost or just purposefully deviating from a plan she made when she was younger.
If that is the point of the entire thing, it isn’t as clear as it could be.
Firstly, thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC. As this is an ARC, many things can change from the version I’ve received, and so I can only base my review on that and not the published book due out in February 2021.
I’ve rated this book three stars, as I enjoyed reading it—but only for the most part. I feel the story primarily being told from Lona’s point of view is good, but due to her inner thoughts we get a clunky idea of her friends and family dynamic.
She seems to have anxiety, (that at least is mentioned) but we see no one in her life bringing it up except fleetingly by George who acknowledges it. It would have been nice for Lona to act upon her own admission of her anxiety as she even realises she often cannot cope with emotions and things.
There was a real interesting development between Tab and Lona that I feel ultimately went nowhere other than Tab leaving university, but her ‘disappearance’ and odd behaviour isn’t mentioned other than that. I understand this is from Lona’s POV, but it would have at least felt like the plot had come full circle, like the ending did.
I did love that Lona started at the skate and ended there. I loved that she herself was constantly, mind the pun, skating around it all the time, never really wanting to give it up as it was, in some ways, the centre of her. Her beginning to paint and turn the books into her own art was beautiful, but I wish this had been more fleshed out, understanding what her future intentions are.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing style of this author. I liked their tone and the voicing for Lona, but there were times I wasn’t sure what the purpose of the story was, not knowing why I’m following Lona and what will be gained from it. I found myself feeling the same at the end, especially with the phone ringing and not knowing whether it would be good news or bad at the other end. I also think whilst I enjoyed the tone and character of Lona, I’m not sure what path she was in to begin with, as it’s hard to tell if she’s lost or just purposefully deviating from a plan she made when she was younger.
If that is the point of the entire thing, it isn’t as clear as it could be.
June 19, 2020
Loner is a short yet meaningful coming of age story about a girl named Lona. There is not much of a plot, in fact there is not really a plot at all and it ends suddenly without any climax or resolution. The sentences are choppy and it changes topics abruptly. The complete lack of a plot was a bit boring and hard to get into at first, but the reason is because this book is a realistic life story. Real life doesn't have a plot, or a neat beginning and ending, and instead is a string of related events. Instead what is interesting about this book is in depth look into the main character Lona.
Lona is a unique yet highly relatable character. She is cynical about everything and a bit pretentious. She likes to be alone a lot but she cares very deeply for her best friend though she isn't the best at keeping up relationships. There were some moments when I couldn't even tell if we were supposed to like her - she was just so pretentious and self absorbed and overly stubborn about the stupidest things and some of the things she said just made me cringe internally. I definitely understand why someone might not like her, but I liked her regardless. Honestly she reminded me too much of myself in many ways, including the things I don't like about myself, which is an uncomfortable but strangely validating kind of character to read about. The writing style is very snappy and there is some witty comment or observation on nearly every page.
I also just love how Lona captured the feeling of being a young adult and being sort of lost in life. Lona has dropped out of art school and works at two crappy minimum wage jobs and lives behind a curtain in the living room with two roommates who she barely knows and is just generally directionless about her future. This is just such a genuine experience and it was written in a way that just really captured the whole vibe of total despair mixed with extreme apathy.
Not much changed from the beginning to end. If you want a story with a riveting plot, this is not the one, but if you are looking for a calm, quiet book about the life of a young girl with witty one-liners throughout, then Loner is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Text Publishing, and author Georgina Young for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Lona is a unique yet highly relatable character. She is cynical about everything and a bit pretentious. She likes to be alone a lot but she cares very deeply for her best friend though she isn't the best at keeping up relationships. There were some moments when I couldn't even tell if we were supposed to like her - she was just so pretentious and self absorbed and overly stubborn about the stupidest things and some of the things she said just made me cringe internally. I definitely understand why someone might not like her, but I liked her regardless. Honestly she reminded me too much of myself in many ways, including the things I don't like about myself, which is an uncomfortable but strangely validating kind of character to read about. The writing style is very snappy and there is some witty comment or observation on nearly every page.
I also just love how Lona captured the feeling of being a young adult and being sort of lost in life. Lona has dropped out of art school and works at two crappy minimum wage jobs and lives behind a curtain in the living room with two roommates who she barely knows and is just generally directionless about her future. This is just such a genuine experience and it was written in a way that just really captured the whole vibe of total despair mixed with extreme apathy.
Not much changed from the beginning to end. If you want a story with a riveting plot, this is not the one, but if you are looking for a calm, quiet book about the life of a young girl with witty one-liners throughout, then Loner is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Text Publishing, and author Georgina Young for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 29, 2023
1.5 stars
content warnings:
I was provided an ARC by Text Publishing in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts are my own.
Although I am extremely grateful to have received this ARC, I am so sad to say that I didn't enjoy this novel. At all.
This story initially caught my attention because we follow a twenty-something named Lona as she navigates what it means to be an adult and how to overcome the trials and tribulations that young adults go through as they begin to establish themselves in society. She frequently asks "What's the point?" but truth be told, as I was reading I was asking myself "What is the point of this book?" As far as plot goes - nothing of significance happened (not enough to carry a plot in my opinion anyway). As far as setting the scene of Lona feeling stagnant in her life, the lack of "exciting" plot points did just that. But man, did it make this novel a bore.
Along with the lack of plot, there was also zero character development. Lona was literally the exact same person as she was in the beginning of the novel, just with a different hairstyle. I found Lona to be unbearable to read from: she was very selfish, annoying, self-indulgent, all while trying to come off as a wallflower (but simultaneously wanting to be the center of everyone's universe). It was bizarre to say the least. Her relationships (both her platonic one with Tab and her "romantic" ones with several supporting characters) made no sense to me as well. Her entire story was very "woe is me" and incredibly difficult to get through.
Although I enjoyed the format of this novel (short chapters, themed chapter headers) the writing style got very redundant in the most literal sense (ie. the repeating of words, the overuse of colons while repeating phrases in reverse order, _____ = ______ = _______, etc.). I felt as though it was taking itself way too seriously - both the character and the writing style came off as extremely pretentious.
content warnings:
I was provided an ARC by Text Publishing in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts are my own.
Although I am extremely grateful to have received this ARC, I am so sad to say that I didn't enjoy this novel. At all.
This story initially caught my attention because we follow a twenty-something named Lona as she navigates what it means to be an adult and how to overcome the trials and tribulations that young adults go through as they begin to establish themselves in society. She frequently asks "What's the point?" but truth be told, as I was reading I was asking myself "What is the point of this book?" As far as plot goes - nothing of significance happened (not enough to carry a plot in my opinion anyway). As far as setting the scene of Lona feeling stagnant in her life, the lack of "exciting" plot points did just that. But man, did it make this novel a bore.
Along with the lack of plot, there was also zero character development. Lona was literally the exact same person as she was in the beginning of the novel, just with a different hairstyle. I found Lona to be unbearable to read from: she was very selfish, annoying, self-indulgent, all while trying to come off as a wallflower (but simultaneously wanting to be the center of everyone's universe). It was bizarre to say the least. Her relationships (both her platonic one with Tab and her "romantic" ones with several supporting characters) made no sense to me as well. Her entire story was very "woe is me" and incredibly difficult to get through.
Although I enjoyed the format of this novel (short chapters, themed chapter headers) the writing style got very redundant in the most literal sense (ie. the repeating of words, the overuse of colons while repeating phrases in reverse order, _____ = ______ = _______, etc.). I felt as though it was taking itself way too seriously - both the character and the writing style came off as extremely pretentious.
July 6, 2020
Review to come! Loved this 💙
August 1, 2020
I'm trying to work out why I chose to read Loner. It was partly the hype; the first I heard of Georgina Young's Loner was that it was winner of the 2019 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing. The description sounded enticing, with mention of roller DJs, Harry Potter fans and old school photography. I suspect I was also riding high on the Normal People wave and may have seen an article comparing Loner to Sally Rooney's exceptionally popular book.
Whatever lead me to Loner was not what I found in the book and that is little surprise.
Had I properly read the blurb, I would have realised that a book about a university dropout aimlessly navigating social isolation, unrequited love and a perpetual sense of failure was never going to be exciting reading. In fact, it was all rather bland.
Perhaps it was that my own memories of university were of an identical inertia, an inability to function that slowly marched its way to a bone-grinding depression? Whatever the case, Loner was not the quirky, uplifting book I was in the market for and perhaps the hint was in the title?
Despite my reservations and lukewarm reception, I strongly suspect that this will somehow become a television series. The critical hype is immense - hence the Text Prize - but for those of us seeking a bit of escape during the worst year ever? Not so much. Ultimately, Loner reminded me of why I don't read New Adult fiction.
I give Loner an okay three out of five stars. Recommended if you're looking for the post-millennial version of Douglas Coupland's Generation X.
I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley. In my search for superior young adult fiction, I will always provide an honest review, whether books are provided to me or purchased by me.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Whatever lead me to Loner was not what I found in the book and that is little surprise.
Had I properly read the blurb, I would have realised that a book about a university dropout aimlessly navigating social isolation, unrequited love and a perpetual sense of failure was never going to be exciting reading. In fact, it was all rather bland.
Perhaps it was that my own memories of university were of an identical inertia, an inability to function that slowly marched its way to a bone-grinding depression? Whatever the case, Loner was not the quirky, uplifting book I was in the market for and perhaps the hint was in the title?
Despite my reservations and lukewarm reception, I strongly suspect that this will somehow become a television series. The critical hype is immense - hence the Text Prize - but for those of us seeking a bit of escape during the worst year ever? Not so much. Ultimately, Loner reminded me of why I don't read New Adult fiction.
I give Loner an okay three out of five stars. Recommended if you're looking for the post-millennial version of Douglas Coupland's Generation X.
I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley. In my search for superior young adult fiction, I will always provide an honest review, whether books are provided to me or purchased by me.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
September 10, 2020
Lona Wallace; Caulfield Monash drop out (you can connect the dots), trolley girl at 'Huntingdale' Coles (lest we offend the long term check out workers one stop up at Oakleigh). Queen of the South East. Though this book was a quirky read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the characters in its pages. Loved that it was such a 'Melbourne' book (yes we love our trains). One for the Frankie Magazine generation. Just don't let Lona get one of your books: it might end up like her Grandfather's copy of Death on the Nile.
December 29, 2020
I’m really loving this trend of books that are written in that in between teenage and “adult” years. The way that a certain few authors can capture relationships and the melancholy, or anxiety is something to be marvelled.
Loner was no exception. Young has created a character that I simultaneously could have been and also wanted to give a big hug. Freshly dropped out of uni and moved out of home Lona is navigating life by working part time jobs and by muddling through relationships.
Like many others I’m sure, I feel somewhat behind my close friends in life. It’s not something that I’ve seen portrayed a lot and to have it again reiterated that this is a completely normal feeling is nice. Loner also portrays what I think are mostly realistic relationships. Both romantic and platonic.
It’s also extremely well written. With short snippets of life rather than chapters that can sometimes drag in other books of a similar nature. I loved spending a shift at Coles, and then a night at a bar with Lona. With this it also made it super easy to read, and although I wanted to savour it I devoured it within two days. The fact it was also set in Melbourne made it feel all that bit more familiar.
If you’re looking to fill a Sally Rooney shaped hole in your heart definitely pick this one up!
Loner was no exception. Young has created a character that I simultaneously could have been and also wanted to give a big hug. Freshly dropped out of uni and moved out of home Lona is navigating life by working part time jobs and by muddling through relationships.
Like many others I’m sure, I feel somewhat behind my close friends in life. It’s not something that I’ve seen portrayed a lot and to have it again reiterated that this is a completely normal feeling is nice. Loner also portrays what I think are mostly realistic relationships. Both romantic and platonic.
It’s also extremely well written. With short snippets of life rather than chapters that can sometimes drag in other books of a similar nature. I loved spending a shift at Coles, and then a night at a bar with Lona. With this it also made it super easy to read, and although I wanted to savour it I devoured it within two days. The fact it was also set in Melbourne made it feel all that bit more familiar.
If you’re looking to fill a Sally Rooney shaped hole in your heart definitely pick this one up!
January 6, 2021
✔️ a book about art or an artist
January 6, 2024
Sorry to say, but this was a terrible book. So little happens that you wonder what the author was thinking? There’s not any character development to speak of for Lona (which would’ve helped). 1.5 stars.
July 18, 2020
It was love in the first 5 pages. I don’t think I’ve ever related more to a book in my life.
Lona dropped out of at school for multiple reasons, she’s in a rut and does fit in. She’s a Loner and has no idea where to start figuring out what she wants to do with her life.
She doesn’t know how to express her feelings and her relationships are strained because she is always hidden behind a mask or awkward humour. Lona’s constantly battling between living up to her parent’s and society’s expectations and trying to find her feet and getting her shit together terrifies her.
She’s got an amazing best friend who is impulsive and is extremely extroverted, completely opposite to Lona. She falls for a bass playing med student who know what he wants in life unlike Lona.
Without spoiler Lona hits rock bottom and consequently begins to find herself and her ambitions. Witty, real, funny and heartbreakingly spectacular. This is the ultimate power novel for dropouts, screw up and anyone who feels like they just don’t fit it!
Reason’s I loved and related too Lona;
1. She lives for books and references so many amazing books
2. She actually only likes 5 people
3. Most basic bitch ever
4. Music, bands and gigs
5. Everything relates to a tv show or movie
6. Awkward as fuck
7. References to grey Australian pastimes like healthy Harold, channel 7 and triple J
8. Total introvert
9. Comfort eater
10. But above all she knows who she is and owns it!
Loner was written by Aussie writer Georgina Young, winner of text prize. I was so incredibly honoured to receive this book from Text Publishing.
You can purchase this beautiful book from August 4th 2020. Highly recommended!
Lona dropped out of at school for multiple reasons, she’s in a rut and does fit in. She’s a Loner and has no idea where to start figuring out what she wants to do with her life.
She doesn’t know how to express her feelings and her relationships are strained because she is always hidden behind a mask or awkward humour. Lona’s constantly battling between living up to her parent’s and society’s expectations and trying to find her feet and getting her shit together terrifies her.
She’s got an amazing best friend who is impulsive and is extremely extroverted, completely opposite to Lona. She falls for a bass playing med student who know what he wants in life unlike Lona.
Without spoiler Lona hits rock bottom and consequently begins to find herself and her ambitions. Witty, real, funny and heartbreakingly spectacular. This is the ultimate power novel for dropouts, screw up and anyone who feels like they just don’t fit it!
Reason’s I loved and related too Lona;
1. She lives for books and references so many amazing books
2. She actually only likes 5 people
3. Most basic bitch ever
4. Music, bands and gigs
5. Everything relates to a tv show or movie
6. Awkward as fuck
7. References to grey Australian pastimes like healthy Harold, channel 7 and triple J
8. Total introvert
9. Comfort eater
10. But above all she knows who she is and owns it!
Loner was written by Aussie writer Georgina Young, winner of text prize. I was so incredibly honoured to receive this book from Text Publishing.
You can purchase this beautiful book from August 4th 2020. Highly recommended!
May 30, 2020
**Thank you to NetGalley, Text Publishing, and author Georgina Young for sending me an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Loner in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed in this review are solely my own.**
2/5 (e-book)
Well, I did not love this one. I didn't feel like I knew a lot going into it, and after finishing it, I still feel like I don't know a lot about the book. I am not sure what the overall message or purpose or point of this book is, and that really frustrates me as a reader.
I know this is an ARC, so changes are still going to be made to the book before publication, but there seemed to be many mechanical and grammatical errors, and the organization was kind of all over the place. The paragraphs are broken up into small, single-spaced sections with some bolded headers. I was so much bothered by this as I was bothered by the lack of cohesiveness between the section headers. It seems like the sections would jump from one thing to the next without a clear transition. This became confusing at some points because the jumps were so jarring.
I also felt that a lot of the characters were static, thus making the relationships between all the characters weak. There was little to no growth in characters throughout, and this makes them feel boring and unrelatable. Looking specifically at Lona's character, I was initially annoyed by how persistently pessimistic she was. I felt like it was a little overdone and there was no give to it. But, after finishing the book, I thought more about how that is the mindset that some people get stuck in.
This, however, leads me to a point that I liked about the book. I felt like the characters were real. And maybe this was part of the boring part, but the lives they were living felt realistic, like something that everyday young adults would be doing. So, though they were pretty static, the activities they participated in felt real. And the one relationship I liked was Lona's and George's. Their relationship felt raw and true. There were some ups and downs and the break up was not smooth. This was nice to read after the flatness of the other relationships.
I was really sad that there was not more about Lona's photography. The book started with her sneaking into the darkroom of her old school, and then it felt like it was done. She talks about needing to build creativity and makes the books, but the description of the book made it seem like her photography was going to be a large part of the book. I guess I was disappointed it was not in there more.
SPOILER AHEAD!!!
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The ending of Loner was actually pretty good. I really like how it ended back at Planet Skate with Lona closing down the place one last time, seemingly closing out her youth and moving forward into her new adult life. The only thing that ruined it for me was the phone ringing at the end. This felt weird and out of place and seemed to ruin the nostalgic state. But, besides that, I thought the ending was really nice.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
SPOILER OVER!!!
I am not sure that I would recommend this book to others because of the lack of organization and growth with characters, but I think the author did a nice job creating the average life of a new adult living on their own and experiencing life themselves.
2/5 (e-book)
Well, I did not love this one. I didn't feel like I knew a lot going into it, and after finishing it, I still feel like I don't know a lot about the book. I am not sure what the overall message or purpose or point of this book is, and that really frustrates me as a reader.
I know this is an ARC, so changes are still going to be made to the book before publication, but there seemed to be many mechanical and grammatical errors, and the organization was kind of all over the place. The paragraphs are broken up into small, single-spaced sections with some bolded headers. I was so much bothered by this as I was bothered by the lack of cohesiveness between the section headers. It seems like the sections would jump from one thing to the next without a clear transition. This became confusing at some points because the jumps were so jarring.
I also felt that a lot of the characters were static, thus making the relationships between all the characters weak. There was little to no growth in characters throughout, and this makes them feel boring and unrelatable. Looking specifically at Lona's character, I was initially annoyed by how persistently pessimistic she was. I felt like it was a little overdone and there was no give to it. But, after finishing the book, I thought more about how that is the mindset that some people get stuck in.
This, however, leads me to a point that I liked about the book. I felt like the characters were real. And maybe this was part of the boring part, but the lives they were living felt realistic, like something that everyday young adults would be doing. So, though they were pretty static, the activities they participated in felt real. And the one relationship I liked was Lona's and George's. Their relationship felt raw and true. There were some ups and downs and the break up was not smooth. This was nice to read after the flatness of the other relationships.
I was really sad that there was not more about Lona's photography. The book started with her sneaking into the darkroom of her old school, and then it felt like it was done. She talks about needing to build creativity and makes the books, but the description of the book made it seem like her photography was going to be a large part of the book. I guess I was disappointed it was not in there more.
SPOILER AHEAD!!!
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The ending of Loner was actually pretty good. I really like how it ended back at Planet Skate with Lona closing down the place one last time, seemingly closing out her youth and moving forward into her new adult life. The only thing that ruined it for me was the phone ringing at the end. This felt weird and out of place and seemed to ruin the nostalgic state. But, besides that, I thought the ending was really nice.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
SPOILER OVER!!!
I am not sure that I would recommend this book to others because of the lack of organization and growth with characters, but I think the author did a nice job creating the average life of a new adult living on their own and experiencing life themselves.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews