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The Overthinkers
Four people, figuring out sex, love, and how to ‘adult.’ Sydney - one of those places that just consumes you. A private school boy, a tortured drug dealer, a starving writer and a gay outcast, try to do their best as they navigate through the unspoken rules which govern the fast paced, status obsessed harbour city. desperate to stand on his own, and be perceived as separate to his status-driven family. plotting her remarkable and glamorous future. the confident gay-sian, but despite the pretense, lacks a sense of identity and self-worth. fell into drugs to distinguish himself. Four stories interlaced together. Anxiety masked as confidence. Ambitions as arrogance. Insecurities which fester … until the cracks appear in the perfect façade"I laughed. I cried. Sometimes at the same time!' Tim Ferguson."Portolan and Cheong’s voices stitch seamlessly together to lay out a funny, honest and extremely relatable story, so clearly born of the 2020s. I couldn’t get enough of it!" Marlee Silva
Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2021
3 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 11, 2021
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
“Four people, figuring out sex, love, and how to grit their lives together”
This is such an insight to our insecurities, growing up, and learning from life experiences.
All the characters are broken in some way or form regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds.
The insights into each character breaks down the barriers of education, race, sexuality and gender and reveals that beneath these social definitions - we all have our own demons and insecurities to navigate.
The writing is poignant and easy to relate to and made this book so easy to immerse within.
“Four people, figuring out sex, love, and how to grit their lives together”
This is such an insight to our insecurities, growing up, and learning from life experiences.
All the characters are broken in some way or form regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds.
The insights into each character breaks down the barriers of education, race, sexuality and gender and reveals that beneath these social definitions - we all have our own demons and insecurities to navigate.
The writing is poignant and easy to relate to and made this book so easy to immerse within.
January 25, 2022
- thanks to Big Sky Publishing for my #gifted copy
If anything, it's safe to admit that I went into The Overthinkers with zero understanding of what the novel was about, so I was blessedly able to be surprised by the authors' writing and what sort of story their characters wanted to tell. Sadly, after finishing the novel, I'm still unsure what the authors wanted to accomplish.
In my constant pursuit of respectful analysis when reviewing a book, I try to avoid certain adjectives; however, the only word I can come up with to describe this novel is ... messy. I believe I have a good idea of why the authors created their characters with lots of '20s vibes, but the characterisation was doubtlessly detrimental to the narrative, mainly because this book is one hundred per cent character-based.
Every single one of the five protagonists felt like walking cliches, impossible to relate to. They were constantly trapped in volatile fantasies, aspiring to be oh-so-different in an oh-so-cruel-world, narcissists and egotistic people incapable of taking a good look at the next person. To refrain from rolling my eyes while stuck in these characters' inner monologues constituted a physical effort.
Because this novel is solely based on characterisation, there was nothing else to enjoy. Plot-wise, nothing truly happens, as the short chapters are limited to portray how the characters interact with each other and random stream of consciousness that aspire to be bold yet fail to be so. There is basically no story: the lack of beginning and ending serves only as an invitation to get to know a set of characters that were not pleasurable to get to know.
I also did not appreciate how every character -within their own perspective- had the same issues to explore: all of them were ashamed of something, hiding behind a facade. Although this might sound quite interesting, it lacked the nuance necessary to explore themes of shame and identity successfully.
Overall, The Overthinkers was not my cup of tea. A missed opportunity to explore relevant themes thanks to underdeveloped and unreliable characters.
If anything, it's safe to admit that I went into The Overthinkers with zero understanding of what the novel was about, so I was blessedly able to be surprised by the authors' writing and what sort of story their characters wanted to tell. Sadly, after finishing the novel, I'm still unsure what the authors wanted to accomplish.
In my constant pursuit of respectful analysis when reviewing a book, I try to avoid certain adjectives; however, the only word I can come up with to describe this novel is ... messy. I believe I have a good idea of why the authors created their characters with lots of '20s vibes, but the characterisation was doubtlessly detrimental to the narrative, mainly because this book is one hundred per cent character-based.
Every single one of the five protagonists felt like walking cliches, impossible to relate to. They were constantly trapped in volatile fantasies, aspiring to be oh-so-different in an oh-so-cruel-world, narcissists and egotistic people incapable of taking a good look at the next person. To refrain from rolling my eyes while stuck in these characters' inner monologues constituted a physical effort.
Because this novel is solely based on characterisation, there was nothing else to enjoy. Plot-wise, nothing truly happens, as the short chapters are limited to portray how the characters interact with each other and random stream of consciousness that aspire to be bold yet fail to be so. There is basically no story: the lack of beginning and ending serves only as an invitation to get to know a set of characters that were not pleasurable to get to know.
I also did not appreciate how every character -within their own perspective- had the same issues to explore: all of them were ashamed of something, hiding behind a facade. Although this might sound quite interesting, it lacked the nuance necessary to explore themes of shame and identity successfully.
Overall, The Overthinkers was not my cup of tea. A missed opportunity to explore relevant themes thanks to underdeveloped and unreliable characters.
August 8, 2021
I was lucky enough to receive this book from @bigskypublishing earlier in the year. This honest and very relatable story had me hooked, it gave me A Secret Life of Us vibes, but in current 2020s.
I just couldn’t put this one down, I read it in a day, loving each flawed character. The writing is seamless and its just another book that you can’t tell was written by two people. All four characters, Leo, Benji, Francesca and Hamish were extremely relatable and very ordinary people. Shifting through each POV every chapter really highlighted the cause and effect of their interactions. This small but mighty book dals with trauma, sexuality, online dating, body dysmorphia, drug addiction, race, socio-economic status and more. They are all just trying to figure out what they want while navigating their own insecurities, making mistakes, and breaking down barriers.
4.5/5
August 19, 2021
A friend of mine recommended I read this and I could see why. The character of Leo has a lot of parallels in my life .. about growing up in an Asian family and trying to come to terms with coming out .. and then dealing with the gay world, which can be harsh and unsupportive. Leo personifies the thoughts and feelings I’ve had and by reading his journey, I couldn’t help but feel moments of catharsis. Like finally, a hidden but core part of my story is being told. The authors have been able to tap into what a lot of us are going through as we traverse modern Aussie life with friends, relationships, family .. and social media. The character of Benji is adorable - he really ties all the other character together. His lighthearted and funny “overthinking” provides the balance to the others’ eccentricities and hang ups. It was an enjoyable read - a good book for lockdown.
August 16, 2021
Fantastic book with a bunch of relatable and very human characters. I found myself really understanding the characters a whole lot better because of the clever and yet simple way many parts are retold from their own indivudual point of view. The authors have really inhabited their characters so that they come to life out of the page. Being from Sydney myself made it even the more vivid with such familiar locations and personalities. I read it in less than a week - very compelling and highly recommended!
August 8, 2021
I loved this book, what an easy read. I finished it in two days, just loved it. Sad sometimes with the harsh realities of the Sydney Gay Scene known all too well to those living in it. Identifying with the characters and the struggles they go through allows the reader to identify with them on some level and feel the struggles they go through and pain of unrequited love. A really great book, highly recommend.
August 23, 2021
A quintessentially Sydney story. The characters all embody very real and relatable traits, backgrounds and perceptions. I felt emotionally invested in them through the highs and lows of their stories. Well balanced and engaging from the very first page.
August 23, 2021
Loved this book. A book with complex, interweaving characters although easy to follow. Definitely picked up pace a few chapters in which made it hard to put down. I think for me the relate-ability is what made it such an enjoyable read. Highly recommend!
September 26, 2021
The underthinkers.
February 27, 2022
An interesting perspective on the sub communities of inner city Sydney. Important representation of our Asian queer community, but writing fell a bit flat.
July 23, 2022
Easy read. Cute and relatable.
March 23, 2025
Easy to read but kind of depressing, did not like the ending
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March 25, 2025dnf unfortunately!!!
August 20, 2021
The Overthinkers is a modern day Secret Life of Us wrapped up in a love letter to Sydney. A contemporary coming of age story that isn't afraid to expose the gritty underbelly of the Harbour City. Love, life & friendship are all explored in complex and sensitive ways. A must read for the modern day.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews