Amanda’s Reviews > The Undetectables > Status Update

…especially around Mallory’s emotions, things are often stated in an incredibly repetitive manner. It doesn’t build, just feels like beating a dead horse. As a reader, I know she’s jealous of her friends’ ability to get higher education. Stating it over and over isn’t telling me anything new, and the repetition is not well written enough to excuse it or to help it build any more emotional tension.

Making a note so I don’t forget this criticism later: the chronic pain content of the book has been mostly well done, but some bits are getting repetitive from a writing standpoint. It is great to show how her illness contributes to every decision Mallory makes, how her fatigue keeps her from doing things she wants to, how she has to constantly be aware of her limits in order to stay a functioning person BUT

“Books covered every otherwise unoccupied surface.”

As it should be.