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There are currently 38 member reviews
for Young Jane Young
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Nancy H. (Lisle, IL)
No one to like
This book suffers from having no one to like. I didn't much like the book, yet I found I couldn't put it down. It reminded me of our current political climate—there's no one to root for, but I want to see what happens next. I'm often a fan of the multiple-perspectives tactic, but instead of providing me insight into the characters' motivations, it just left me even more annoyed with the characters and their flaws. I found many aspects of the plot unconvincing. And who wants to rehash the Monica Lewinsky story? Loved Fikry - not a fan of this one.
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Erin J. (Milwaukie, OR)
Nuggets of an interesting story get lost among the rambles
I am what is known to Nancy Pearl fans as a "character doorway" reader. Since this novel definitely has character as its primary doorway, I expected to really enjoy it. However, I never really connected with any of the characters, and the structure of the story didn't quite gel for me either--it lacked cohesion, which further distanced me from caring about the people in it. I really struggled to figure out what was going on when each section was narrated from the point of view of a different character, and some sections rambled or jumped around in time, making it incredibly difficult to construct a mental timeline or know what to pay attention to. I spent too much energy focusing on details of timing rather than becoming absorbed in the story itself. Had the book better matched its blurbs, particularly the one on Goodreads, I think I would have loved it. I'm sure plenty of readers would disagree with me, but I think tightening up the narration and not starting with Rachel's point of view would have made a world of difference. This novel strikes me as the book version of a student essay written without a clear thesis statement: nuggets of goodness but scattered, and with loose ends dangling.
I don't mean to sound harsh. I didn't hate it, and I can see how some readers will absolutely love it. I did enjoy the narrative conceits of letters to a pen pal and choose-your-own-adventure. Even though it took me a while to finish, and the pace of the story arc was very slow, it still felt like it read fast, particularly the final chapters.
Readers' advisors will want to note that there is a fair amount of profanity, and since it's centered around a sex scandal, there are references to sexual activities, including anal sex, and plenty of face-palmingly poor decisions.
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Joanne V. (Towanda, PA)
Not nearly as good as her first book
I really loved "The Storied Life of AJ Fikry" - not so this one. Perhaps it is the title - in my view, I think it is a dumb title! I just couldn't find anything sympathetic about the characters - and it was so "Monica Lewinsky" that I just didn't like anyone. I realize that this is just my opinion, but I expected better from this writer. Having said all that, it would probably be a really good book club selection as it would probably generate a lot of discussion.
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