Jenna's Reviews > Little Fires Everywhere

You really nailed it with calling her Manic Pixie Dream Artist Mom! She just made me like the "uptight" characters more, to be contrary.

Hooray for this review!

"And ugh, the ending, with the four envelopes - for me that was so saccharine that I seriously wanted to vomit."

Oh god, yes. That was the moment the book dropped from two stars to one for me. Awful.

I already own a copy of Everything I Never Told You, though, so I'm glad you liked that one better, and I appreciate the recs for The Leavers and The Animators!

Awesome review!

Jenna,
Is it wrong of me to like it when you don't like a book??

I liked this a bit more than you did, but I agree with everything you said. I haven't been able to get my head around a review for this yet, but yours has crystalized some of the ambivalence I had around the extremes between Mia (warm, empathetic earth mom) and "Mrs. Richardson" (formal, rigid, judgemental). I agree that it felt manipulative. Excellent and thoughtful review, Jenna.

I was torn between 2 and 3. Now I think I should have given it a 2.

You guys are all so nice - thank you! Ann and Dianne, agreed that the author shot herself in the foot by setting up this very obvious dichotomy between "Mrs. Richardson" (wow, that was so transparent and effort to render her "The Other" that it REALLY bothered me) and the ostensible Artsy Earth Mom Mia.

Julie-no worries, it is not wrong of you to like when I dislike a book: at least my time spent on the book serves some valuable end purpose then, lol! My own issue is that I can articulate reviews about books I don't like or only somewhat like. I'm rendered speechless when it comes to books I love. I am working on that problem, but for now you are safe! My reviews will disproportionately be about books I like less!

Julie E. - well, I wrote my review largely to express my solidarity with your also-excellent review! Glad to hear the envelope thing irked you too - yes, this is where the rage set in for me as well. I felt truly insulted at that point as a reader. So sentimental and cloying!

Excellent review. I also like reading negative reviews of books I liked just to see things from different perspectives. I agree with your little criticisms but I was a little more forgiving with a much higher rating.

Spectacular review. This novel has people divided. I've the paperback of her first book, but I don't know when I'll read it.

Just love your entertaining review, as always! Again, was flattered by your shout-out. I laughed at and lapped up your gripes—you’re so good at explaining all the bad stuff and doing so with much wit. I could read your reviews forever! And man, I’m steering clear of this one. I wish Un-want-to-read was easier. Too lazy to go into My Books to do it.

Very entertaining review! I liked this a little more then you did, but I’m sure I overrated it, loved her first book😊

Thanks again, everyone - Karen, Vanessa, I really appreciate your patience with my review even though the book didn't hit you quite as negatively as it did me!

I so dislike Manic Pixie anything. Give me a gloomy dryad or anything instead. Thanks for the reviews

Love your review, Jenna, although I really enjoyed this book, I agree with a number of things you said - they just didn't bother me the way they did you. I had, at best, expected this to be okay, not having read her first. Really, fabulous review, Jenna!

Kay: Little Gloomy Dryads Everywhere - now THAT I would read! 😂 I guess Mia was portrayed more like a totally unfunny and dull Mary Poppins. I practically expected her to ascend into the heavens at the end, so wise and saintly and beyond reproach she was supposed to be!

Cheri, thanks for your generosity! A lot of my favorite books are ones that really run other people the wrong way - especially since I like a lot of first-person internal monologue kinds of books - so I totally get what you are saying. I can still usually relate to negative reviews of those books and see where the reviewer is coming from. I actually think that is kind of cool to see how readers differ! Still - not everyone on GR is like this - there are many "you must like it police" and "you mustn't like it police" - for some odd reason, since this is a book review site, not a book agreement cult site! - so I thank you! :-)

This is a brilliant review Jenna, thanks for taking the time to articulate your views in such an insightful and witty manner. I loved the 'Little Gripes Everywhere' and your explanation of character-driven novels. Like you I also find it easier to review a book I didn't like rather than one I really loved. I enjoy it when there are quite divergent views about a book amongst my GR friends so I will add this to my to read list and will make the effort to return to this thread and tell you what I thought of it.

Paul, thank you! I wish I could be more eloquent when it comes to reviewing books I actually like, but at least these less favorable reviews are useful and fun in their own way!

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you, Jenna. I really enjoyed it but hey as we know....we can't love them all! I really enjoyed your review and I hope your next read is superb! I think it's great that you donated your book too :) I haven't seen many free little libraries around here....maybe I should start one.
Anyway...great review!! <3

Thanks, Deanna! It really was a good feeling knowing that someone was going to get this brand new book that, unlike me, they would probably love (based on the average ratings)! Redeemed it all for me! :-)

I’ve been on the fence about reading this book. Thanks for your opinion, Jenna.

Loved your comments, Jenna, especially the definition of a character-driven novel "a novel with some characters in it, who do some stuff." hahahaha

Glad you're writing reviews again. Always enjoy them immensely. And thanks for warning me away from this book.

Paula, Suzanne - thanks for your kind comments! I mean, practically everyone else in the world seemed to absolutely love this book, so take my review for what it's worth - buuuut, I do still think my criticisms are fair, and have been echoed by other reviewers, including some of our very trusted Friends!

Jenna, you are definitely a most trusted friend and reviewer, so I will consider your opinion a good enough reason to avoid this, at least until such time as someone else of equal caliber in the reviewing department convinces me otherwise or my to-read list is in need of replenishment (but I don't expect that to happen anytime soon!). There are too many other good books waiting to be read. Thanks again for the heads-up and Happy Thanksgiving!

LFE is only a character-driven novel if you accept as the definition of a character-driven novel "a novel with some characters in it, who do some stuff."

This line made me laugh out loud. Great review!! I forgot about the four envelopes at the end of the book, possibly because I willfully excised that passage from my memory. I really feel like that encapsulates the entire problem with this book.