babyleo's Reviews (1.69k)

A version of this review was published on Lost in a Good Book - https://wp.me/p3x8rS-30A
 

I love the style of fairytale retellings where they are still trying to be fairytales. They aren’t modern, they aren’t new genres. Instead we get retellings that are like an existing fairytale. There’s the rule of three as well as characters who are wise and profound but also people who are miscreants and tricksters. Gaiman keeps the dark creativity of Grimm’s original tales and there is a bold and deep fairytale tone throughout.

I wasn’t expecting this to be anything other than Gaiman’s take on Sleeping Beauty but there is a mix of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty references in this retelling as the characters are clearly from these stories. They are recognisable but not tired tropes and Gaiman has a great new approach to them that turns expectations on their head in a really clever way.

It is a relatively quick read but it has a lasting impact like all fairytales want to do. I did this as an audiobook which probably was part of the experience. Oral storytelling works so well with fairytales and the dark twist on how fairytales are meant to be adds another layer. I know the book has amazing illustrations by Chris Riddell but the audio isn’t lacking a bit of magic either. Having so many narrators makes it a little like a radio play but it doesn't feel like a radio play either. It's a compelling story with each character given their own voice which brings it to life. 

A longer version of this review was published on Lost in a Good Book- https://wp.me/p3x8rS-2RB
 

Reading these out of order was accidental so I knew what to expect but at the same time I was interested to see a whole new storyline because there is definitely two separate love stories happening despite being set during the same experience.

I loved that for the first part on the show we see the same conversations playing out because of course they’re all in the same group. It makes me wonder if I’d done it in another order I’d have the same surprises. The ending of book two was a nice reveal that you had an inkling about, whereas this doesn’t have the same feeling of mystery to it.

Without comparing the two books, I found I wasn’t invested in the Dylan/Cece relationship like I was before with the other story. I don’t know why, Dylan is perfectly nice, a little one dimensional at times, maybe too I couldn’t warm up to Cece as narrator. I found myself tuning out unintentionally which I felt bad about, but I couldn’t stay in the story. The conversations between Dylan and Cece didn’t grab me and it felt flat. It wasn’t that I need drama or anything, but I never became invested in their characters.

You definitely see the two falling in love as they become better friends, a great contrast against the backdrop of reality TV and fabricated relationships for personal gain and fame. You also see Cece’s growth as she builds in confidence and finds out what’s she’s looking for, but she never felt complete. With the knowledge of book two I actually enjoyed their relationship from an outsider’s perspective more fulfilling.

McAlister did a great job having two separate locations and so dual storylines could happen. We only see Cece’s side, and this focuses it more on a story with her inner turmoil than being about the dating show aspect alone. Often the television dating part is something happening in the background, something that we pop in and out of and connects to a wider story. That’s not to say we don’t see the drama of reality TV. There are extra characters to clash with but the situation McAlister has put Cece in means a lot of time is spent in her head which often felt repetitive.

I did like that both books give an unconventional conclusion; a romance that comes from unexpected places but still a place of sincerity and honesty. 

A longer version of this review was published on Lost in a Good Book - https://wp.me/p3x8rS-2U3
 

So many time loops are single days, usually the worst days of a character’s life but Pollack has brought the story of Brad, and makes him relive the first forty years of his life, resetting the night before his fortieth birthday.

I liked the story, it wasn’t the best time loop story I’d read but at the same time it was captivating, even if it was a rough read. Brad is a terrible person, through cycle after cycle he becomes amazingly an even worse person. Of course there has to be a lesson learnt otherwise I think we’d all reach into the book and strangle Brad on our own. His language and humour is crude, and Pollack drives his character and personality really well in that as understanding as we are, you certainly suffer no sympathy for him.

Pollack drops hints towards the end of the novel about how Brad came to be in his cycle. An inherently cruel time loop given forty years is an incredibly long time. I was curious at how he’d cycle through so many loops with such a long time span but he does a decent job introducing us to a new loop at interesting moments or towards the end and have the story backfill from there.

There is an unsubtle author self-insert which was interesting, but Pollack included it well narratively speaking. It provides an external perspective on how the world sees Brad after thousands of years. Especially given the capacity for the human brain and the undue stress he places it under. I was glad Pollack address the brain’s capacity to keep memories straight and every version clear given the overlap. That was an interesting approach and one you can’t address in single day loops.

Overall it was an interesting read and a fascinating premise. I can’t say I wasn’t expecting more from having such an extensive loop, but at the same time I was intrigued by the chance to redo your life and how many choices would stay and which would change. Sometimes even with hundreds of chances to redo your life you can’t fully change the character of a person. 

This review was published on Lost in a Good Book - https://wp.me/p3x8rS-2RK
 

This was an interesting mixed bag in terms of reviewing because I liked so much of it but other parts were unrealistic. I won’t list them here because while they aren’t quite spoilers it’s not entirely relevant either.

There’s content warnings for assault, brief misgendering and minor suicidal ideation but McSmith includes these in key moments from certain characters. Pony is trying to establish himself at the new school with a lot of pressure coming at him from friends and family, and it isn’t until further in the book do you realise how much that goal is holding him together. How hard everything is, how exhausting it is for Pony to be the person he’s presenting to the world. It’s also a wonderful example of how it doesn’t take much to change someone’s entire viewpoint if it comes at the wrong time. Enough blows will make anybody fall.

The further I got into this story the more grateful I was this wasn’t going to be a story of major abusive and transphobia. The positivity Pony described from his previous school, and his own happiness with himself made dealing with an unsupportive father easier, especially with his sister and mother by his side. But of course people are going to be people. The scene comes towards the end of the book, and as much as felt like it was a token scene of abuse, I kind of understand why McSmith included it. You can’t ignore the fact transphobia exists, and you can’t help there’s horrible people around, but at the same time after a book that was 90% light hearted happy vibes of regular teen drama and identity quests, having a sudden shift was a shock. Thankfully it comes towards the end and McSmith definitely uses it as a jumping of point for major character development. It has a purpose which is something I suppose.

I was worried it would become too cinematic perfection by the end, especially with the subplot of Pony helping out the former movie star. That was an interesting side story that felt important but also wasn’t quite as significant as I expected. It helped Pony realise some things, but McSmith doesn’t use it as a saviour either which I was expecting.

All the characters grow in their own way, which is all you can ask of them. Max, Pony, Georgia and even Pony’s family evolve and while there is room for improvement hope is all you can leave a person with. Sometimes stark realities and harsh reminders are needed, even if feels out of place.

People are capable of incredibly things with the right motivation and seeing Georgia’s growth as she comes into herself and realises her own identity is wonderful. Pony’s own realisation about what kind of person he wants to be is ongoing, the shield he’s held up about His Identity through the year is allowing more of himself to come through. McSmith concludes the book knowing everyone is going to be ok, even if it feels a tad cheesy sometimes that can be ok.