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I am bored

Still love the writing and Mabel/Elsie as a characters. But there is no way that Daphne isn't imaginary, I mean she was probably real before her family moved away but has been imaginary since she showed up at the hospital. At least, I will be shocked if that's not the case. And this was introduced as a love story about their friendship so I really hope I am wrong.

Living up to the hype so far! I love a platonic friendship love story and I love hilarious old ladies.

This feels like a loose Beauty and the Beast retelling. Woman has to go live with shitty dude to save a family member. Dude is still shitty but she comes around because he is likely cursed in some way.

Hmmmm, still feeling like a pretty standard coming of age fantasy novel. I feel like I need something more out of this.

Hmmm, kind of cookie cutter so far.

I haaaaaate it when the fmc acts like a fumbling child and the mmc's whole deal is just taking care of her. Isn't this woman supposed to be some sort of math genius? Literally what value does she contribute to their friendship?

Let me get this straight, this character thinks she has commitment issues because she cycled through a lot of boyfriends before her 7 year relationship that she started at 19?! You were a teenager, that doesn't count. Like at 26 she should still be dating around. Is she like Mormon or something? Also, there is no way her first kiss wasn't the friend...I think this author may just not be for me.

It's a monster mash! I think Morjune and Betheli are my faves. The problem is, the villain is boring and that makes the story less interesting. Also, fuck these townspeople.

The vignette style structure is making things a bit slow. I'd like more character time

I think this could have used a few adjustments but if this turned into a series I would definitely read it.

I like the tone, it feels a little bit Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel but also a little bit Frankenstein.

I have to wonder if, at some point, a jarbrain is not going to be who they are. If Martim could still be alive. I live Isa and Kob both trying to save each other and hope we get more of that dynamic.

I love everything about this except for the size of the experience gap between the characters. Not a problem for the story as a whole, I just personally don't find it romantic when one character is taking on the mentor role, it feels parental in a way that is not hot. I think it would help if Sadie had some other advantage to kind of balance them out.

Rich or no, Mal's money management is concerning. Otherwise, love her. Sadie's whole deal could get annoying soon but isn't yet. All the side characters are really well written. Also, Sadie's sister is an asshole.

The worldbuilding is excellent so far and I like the character. I don't feel emotionally invested at this point but Fonda Lee is good at building that up slowly so I have some faith.

This isn't connecting at all. The writing is good, beautiful even, but nothing feels real or memorable. I am thinking I should probably drop it before it puts me in a reading slump but I actually paid for this one so I keep trying to make it work.

Claire North has always been good at thinking up interesting concepts, but honestly, the execution is a little boring so far

I thought this would be more darkly comedic but instead I am just watching someone's depressing psychotic break. That's what it is right? Those questions at the beginning felt vaguely psychiatric.

I just want romcoms to stop using cutesy nicknames and can the MMC stop being so paternalisitic? He is constantly telling Paige what she does and doesn't want and I think he needs to be called out on it more. Otherwise, pretty good. I like the focus on Paige's friendships and the flashbacks work pretty well.

I think Bhaer is the first character I have found less interesting in the book than in the adaptations.

I think Bhaer is the first character I have found less interesting in the book than in the adaptations.

The setup is ridiculous but it works within the context of these characters. The chemistry is good but it's always a little cringe reading song lyrics in a book so I feel like that may be a distraction for me on this one.

This world building is terrible, I think it should have been written as a Young Adult book. The only thing keeping me from DNFing is that I already quit a book this week.

I respect Kate Quinn for trying something different but I wish she would still play to her strengths. A fantastical element is fine (though the world building is clumsy) but her talent is writing about friendships and if she isn't doing that, it falls a little flat. Also, having had to do 'poverty math' in my life, though not to the same degree as Alix, this stresses me out.

Yeah this is not worth reading.

I can see why so much of the second part always gets cut from adaptations. It slows the story down a lot.

I am already considering a DNF. This writing is terrible. She has described a man wearing a backwards ball cap as having 'licks of hair' sticking out from it twice in the span of like 30 pages. The FMC already has a nickname that is being used way too often and has referred to her birkenstocks as 'Birkies'.

Nina and Richie are the only characters I care about at this point. Maybe Adam? Also Sasha really is the worst one, I am glad she is having a terrible party and I hope that Richie spills the beans and Theo leaves her.

Lev is awful and it makes Mia look dumb for dating him. Really all these people are terrible except for Adam, who needs therapy but also needs to escape his shitty friends