Format: ebook
Published: July 9th, 2024
Age: Adult
Genre: Literary – Contemporary
Rating: 3/5 Stars
I liked this more than I tend to like literary fiction, and although it didn’t have me bawling my eyes out, it’s a very sad, emotional read. My main issue was that it just dragged on a little bit too long, and at parts the main character Theron verged into ‘annoying’ territory. Mostly, I liked his character and the way he was written, but there were parts where he felt maybe a little too whiny. It’s definitely a personal preference thing, but there were aspects of Theron’s character that I just don’t gel with generally in fiction.
Jake, however…Jake is a selfish, manipulative and very confused young man, who doesn’t really know what he wants, or how to articulate what he’s feeling, and hurts a lot of people because of it. I couldn’t stand him. And a part of me really didn’t understand the way Theron felt towards him. I got it when Theron was a teenager (the crush part is all-too-relatable), but the older they get, the worse Jake seems to get, and it was hard to see why Theron was so willing to discard anyone else in his life for Jake.
I think both characters are very realistic. Both struggle in their own ways, and both find different outlets for their struggles, but it got to the point where I really wanted these two to grow up a bit more. But, again, they’re realistic and portrayed in a way you can understand them, and even when puzzled at their choices and actions (or what they see in each other, what others see in them), it feels very real.
And like I said, it’s a sad book. It really hits the emotional buttons. It’s an interesting novel, and one that almost pulls you through the story (almost even against your will, if that makes sense?), and though as mentioned I liked it more than I tend to like literary fiction, I still had similar frustrations with this as with other literary books.
Reading Challenge
Musicals Reading Challenge 2024
Prompt: Blood Brothers – Tell Me It’s Not True – a book that ripped your heart out
Progress: 21/24 Completed
Unwrapping Words 