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Vintage Contemporaries
Vintage Contemporaries: A Novel | DAN. KOIS
24 posts | 22 read | 16 to read
"Vintage Contemporaries is about being young and becoming less young, exploring friendship (sometimes magical, sometimes messy), parenthood (ditto), and how to reconcile youthful ambition and ideals with real life. It's a warm and big-hearted coming of age story that made me wistful for my own twenties, set in a vividly rendered and long-vanished New York City."--Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind Slate editor Dan Kois makes his fiction debut with this stunning coming-of-age novel set in New York City, about the joys of unexpected life-altering friendships, the power of finding ourselves in the moment, and the importance of forgiving ourselves when we inevitably mess everything up. It's 1991. Em moved to New York City for excitement and possibility, but the big city isn't quite what she thought it would be. Working as a literary agent's assistant, she's down to her last nineteen dollars but has made two close friends: Emily, a firebrand theater director living in a Lower East Side squat, and Lucy, a middle-aged novelist and single mom. Em's life revolves around these two wildly different women and their vividly disparate yet equally assured views of art and the world. But who is Em, and what does she want to become? It's 2004. Em is now Emily, a successful book editor, happily married and barely coping with the challenges of a new baby. And suddenly Lucy and Emily return to her life: Her old friend Lucy's posthumous book needs a publisher, and her ex-friend Emily wants to rekindle their relationship. As they did once before, these two women--one dead, one very alive--force Emily to reckon with her decisions, her failures, and what kind of creative life she wants to lead. A sharp, reflective, and funny story of a young woman coming into herself and struggling to find her place, Vintage Contemporaries is a novel about art, parenthood, loyalty, and fighting for a cause--the times we do the right thing, and the times we fail--set in New York City on both sides of the millennium.
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review
TrishB
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Pickpick

Thanks to Helen for the loan ♥️ I think I enjoyed this a lot more than most of the other reviews and I liked it more than Idlewild. Maybe I went in with low expectations and it surprised me. An enjoyable weekend read.

squirrelbrain Glad you liked it! ❤️ 9mo
JamieArc I have the same feelings about it as you… going in with low expectations and really liking it. 9mo
MicheleinPhilly I loved this one. Totally snuck up on me! 9mo
See All 8 Comments
TrishB @JamieArc @MicheleinPhilly I think that was it- it snuck up on me! 9mo
BarbaraBB More than Idlewild? Wow! 9mo
Cathythoughts I havnt read Idlewild yet , but it‘s getting such great reviews. So I‘m definitely stacking this one ♥️ 9mo
TrishB @BarbaraBB I wasn‘t a massive fan of Idlewild, sometimes I think it tried just a bit too much to be cool and edgy! But that may be the point. 9mo
TrishB @Cathythoughts 👍🏻 hope you like them! 9mo
71 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
Megabooks
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Welcome to the #LitsyToB24 quarterfinals! We are another step closer to awarding the first Turkey!

This matchup went clearly for Vintage Contemporaries by about a ⅔ majority. Are you happy with the result? These are two quite different novels set in very different time periods, and in my mind, the authors used very different writing styles. Do you prefer more straightforward or lyrical books? Do you agree with my assessment?

Bookwormjillk This one was hard because they were both so different. In the end I went with VC because Let Us had issues sticking the landing in my opinion. On the other hand Let Us seemed gut wrenching and was probably a major accomplishment to write while VC told me what I wanted to hear. (Not sure any of that made sense- long story short this was a hard choice.) 9mo
See All 19 Comments
Chelsea.Poole I really liked both of these novels. Descend was hard to read, both stylistically and in regard to the horrific events of the story. However, I was moved and chose it due to the vivid imagery and scenes that won‘t leave me soon. 9mo
Ruthiella I only read VC so can‘t really comment except for I don‘t like Ward‘s poetic writing style and that‘s why I skipped it. 9mo
squirrelbrain I‘m surprised at this outcome - personally I voted for VC as I found Let Us Descend a tough read (both subject matter and style) but I thought LUD would win the round. 9mo
Megabooks @squirrelbrain @Ruthiella I can only read these very lyrical books on audio and even then, I feel I have to let them wash over me, which doesn‘t always work with a subject matter this heavy. (It only sort of worked in this case.) (edited) 9mo
Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole definitely agree there was a lot of vivid imagery that she captured in an interesting style that I wouldn‘t mistake for any other author. 9mo
Megabooks @Bookwormjillk I understand what you‘re saying about both. I thought VC was a bit atypical in that its female characters were written so astutely by a man. 9mo
Hooked_on_books I loved VC but thought LUD was a near masterpiece, so it got my vote. I am so sad to see it go but also not unhappy to see VC progress. It‘s a wonderful book. 9mo
Bookwormjillk @Megabooks good point! 9mo
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books I‘m glad you enjoyed them both! 9mo
BarbaraBB I wasn‘t too thrilled about both of these. I am surprised that VC won in out tournament but don‘t really mind. I have my 👀 on the next matches 😉 9mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I‘m sort of surprised too, but another one in the quarterfinals surprised me even more! 🤯🤯 9mo
Readerann I didn‘t love Descend, and am planning to read VC at some point. Just very minimal reading time these days. 😩 9mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I know 😂😂 9mo
Megabooks @Readerann same! I‘m not reading nearly as much this year as I did last year, and I have a lot less time to be on litsy and write reviews! 9mo
Suet624 I really really didn‘t like VC. I really really liked LUD - if you can ‘like‘ some a heavy and heartbreaking book. It was brutal but had spirits throughout and I‘m always looking for spirits in my life, so, yeah, that would have been my vote. 9mo
Megabooks @Suet624 I feel like these were such different books I‘m not surprised that people feel strongly towards one or the other! 9mo
60 likes19 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Barbara, Meg and I are so excited to kick off #LitsyToB24!

Our opening bracket was incredibly close throughout the voting and ended in a draw. As your hosts we took the casting votes, and Vintage Contemporaries won by 1 vote!

We bracketed these books together due to the community / found-family feel in both of them - did you also see that?

We‘d love to hear your thoughts on both books, and also what you think of the result!

See All 30 Comments
BarbaraBB I wasn‘t a real fan of Vintage Contemporaries. I liked Grocery Store much more. I do acknowledge both have a strong sense of community but it got a bit lost in the many subjects VC wants to tackle while GD is much more focused in my opinion. I am already thinking of the Zombie round and hoping this one will make a rentree in our #LitsyToB24! 9mo
AmyG I bailed on Grocery Store and didn‘t read Vintage Contemporaries. 😢 9mo
Chelsea.Poole I know so many loved Grocery Store but I just didn‘t connect with it AT ALL. Loved the setting of Vintage Contemporaries…it really brought NYC to life, a city I love. Also, the found family bond of Em and Lucy (and then daughter) really stood out to me. Plus, the publishing industry in that novel was another bonus! 9mo
Jas16 I didn‘t love either of them but thought Grocery Store had more to say so it got my vote. 9mo
Chelsea.Poole AND VC featured great writing about motherhood/parenting. V impressed it was written by a man. 9mo
Bookwormjillk I only read VC- I still have hundreds of people ahead of me for Grocery Store at the library. But I did like VC more than I thought I would so I‘m happy with this result. 9mo
squirrelbrain That‘s really interesting @BarbaraBB - I felt like the message got lost in Grocery Store (maybe too many characters?) but not in VC! 9mo
squirrelbrain I also didn‘t connect with Grocery Store @Chelsea.Poo- i didn‘t hate it, but I also didn‘t care that much either. 😬 Completely the opposite feeling with VC - and I LOVED the NYC setting too. 9mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Wow, that‘s interesting indeed. We are mostly more aligned 😉 9mo
KarenUK I‘m with you Helen in this one. I connected much more with VC…. 9mo
Deblovestoread I rated both of these the same number of stars. I loved the settings in both book but the characters in H&E gave it the edge for me. 9mo
Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole I feel pretty much the same as you and agree that the depth of these female characters written by a man was great! I‘d like to see more of that! 9mo
MicheleinPhilly I haven‘t read Grocery Store yet but VC was a 5 star read for me so 🎉. 9mo
BkClubCare Off to a great start 🌟 I only read Heaven&Earth (and I might not have voted lol - so busy, too many books 😵‍💫🤪) 9mo
Hooked_on_books I‘m delighted with this result! I have huge respect for McBride and loved his previous 2 books, but this one just didn‘t work for me. And I absolutely loved VC. I really connected with Em—I saw a lot of myself in her, only I took a very different path, so it was such a good read. 9mo
squirrelbrain I hope you like Grocery Store when you (eventually!) get it @Bookwormjillk 9mo
squirrelbrain @BkClubCare - hopefully you‘ll be able to vote in the next round. 9mo
Hooked_on_books Is anyone following the official TOB alongside ours? The judgement today was a delight to read, even if I would have picked a different result. 9mo
BkClubCare @Hooked_on_books - YES! Wasn‘t that judgement such fun 🤩 Got me all verklempt and excited for March all over again - despite being a bit sad and dejected about a lack of enthusiasm this year/ not being a completist. (edited) 9mo
BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - aw, I am trying to keep up! Thanks for the tag 🏷️ 9mo
Larkken @Chelsea.Poole interesting observation about the male author writing traditionally feminine subjects so well. Those were the parts of VC that resonated the most for me and will have to give me some solace in this case since I voted for HEGC 😆 (edited) 9mo
Larkken @Hooked_on_books I forgot! *goes to check the internet…* man. I think I am a Rufi Thorpe stan now even if I‘ve not read any of the write-ins lol 9mo
kwmg40 I enjoyed Grocery Store. I started VC and couldn't get into it but might resume after seeing all the comments here. I love books set in cities that I know, especially if they give a good sense of the city, and I expect I would have liked VC better if I were more familiar with NYC. (Last time I visited was decades ago.) 9mo
sarahbarnes Such a close one! I did like Heaven and Earth better, but a great opening round! 9mo
Ruthiella I didn‘t think about how both these novels focus on community, interesting! That does make for a nice pairing. I gave the edge to VC but found both books to be too aimless in their plotting for my reading preferences. 9mo
squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books @BkClubCare @Larkken - it was such fun wasn‘t it?! The other judges have a difficult act to follow. 9mo
fredthemoose Late to this party, but this would have also been tough. To me, the community element was stronger in HEGS, and the play was interesting but with so many characters and side plots I liked some but wasn‘t really attached to any of them and the side plots started to feel like the author showing off. Overall I liked VC although I really didn‘t like/understand the attachment to Emily and some topics got sort of thrown in at the end. 9mo
60 likes30 comments
review
Ruthiella
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I ended liking this more than initially expected. It‘s a gentle novel, occasionally funny, but it lacks focus. In 1991, Emily moves to NYC after college, makes friends, loses friends, gets a job, etc. In 2005, Emily is married with a demanding job, a small child & some of her 90s past popping back up. Next to the other two coming of age stories in the #LitsyToB24 it doesn‘t stand a chance.

#52BookClub24 Chapters have dates
#pop24 coming of age

Bookwormjillk That‘s what I thought too- the book was fine but others in the tournament did it better. 10mo
Librarybelle I put this on my to read list because of all of these great reviews! It sounds interesting! 10mo
BarbaraBB Agree on your review regarding the other two coming of age novels 10mo
See All 6 Comments
Ruthiella @Bookwormjillk @BarbaraBB The other two had a stronger emotional core, I think.🤔 10mo
Ruthiella @Librarybelle It was entertaining in its way, and I‘d say probably particularly nostalgic for anyone who came of age in the 90s on the US. 10mo
Librarybelle Sounds like my type of book! 10mo
72 likes6 comments
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MicheleinPhilly
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Heads up US-based #LitsyTOB24 procrastinators like me! #KindleDailyDeal

TrishB This isn‘t even available on kindle here. 10mo
squirrelbrain Yay! I really liked this one. 10mo
Librarybelle Oh! This is good to know! I‘m not reading with the group, but it sounds so interesting from all of the posts I‘ve seen about it. 10mo
Megabooks Thanks for sharing! 10mo
37 likes4 comments
review
JamieArc
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Pickpick

I went into this #LitsyToB read with low expectations after so many meh reviews, but I really liked this one. While friend Emily was grating, she reminded me of the complicated friendships that can come along at that age. I am a sucker for intergenerational friendships, so I loved Lucy. Overall, I appreciated this quiet story that sunk into my heart.

JamieArc Also, is the photo on the cover supposed to be Em and Emily? Or Em‘s mom and Lucy? Because it should be Em‘s mom and Lucy since that photo was referenced several times in the story. 10mo
BarbaraBB I can‘t even remember that photo… 🤦🏻‍♀️ 10mo
JamieArc @BarbaraBB In the book, she finds a photo of her mom and Lucy. The photo had to do with the two women sharing a moment after the abortion. Lucy told Emily that she was the one who had an abortion but Emily found out later it was her mother. Hope that rings a bell! 10mo
BarbaraBB Yes it does! Thank you for clearing that up 🤍 10mo
squirrelbrain Glad you liked it! ❤️ 10mo
53 likes5 comments
review
CatLass007
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Bailedbailed

#LitsyToB2024 I lived in NYC for several years and I usually enjoy books about the place I used to call home. I really couldn‘t get into this one though. I listened to the audiobook and I didn‘t care for the narrator. And the plot was very slow.

BarbaraBB I wasn‘t much of a fan either. 11mo
Megabooks Too bad it didn‘t work for you! 11mo
CatLass007 @Megabooks That‘s life. 11mo
46 likes3 comments
review
Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

I liked this on audio, but think the slow pace would have driven me nuts if I read it in print. I really enjoy books about the evolution of friendships so this one was right up my alley, although in comparison to other #LitsyTOB24 books I thought Idlewild did it better. Good not great.

Minor complaint: both main characters had the same name 🤯

BarbaraBB I agree on Idlewild! 11mo
squirrelbrain I agree on Idlewild too. I also thought the name thing was odd but I suppose it happens in real life, but can see why it‘s not used more often in books - rather confusing! 11mo
CatLass007 I haven‘t gotten to Idlewild yet but I just started Vintage Contemporaries. I‘m trying to decide whether to continue to listen to it or to bail. 11mo
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CatLass007 Just an aside but my name is Jane and when I started going to a weekly Fiber Arts Group, there were two other Janes and a Janie. If we ever had a dozen people attend, I‘d be surprised. 11mo
Bookwormjillk @CatLass007 if you ever write a book about it please change the names! 11mo
CatLass007 Absolutely! 11mo
Megabooks I thought I liked this more, but looking back a few weeks later I agree with you, @BarbaraBB and @squirrelbrain ! 👍🏻 (edited) 11mo
Hooked_on_books I loved this one, but yeah, Idlewild is even better. I‘m so glad I read both of them. 11mo
61 likes8 comments
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LaraReads
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Pickpick

This book kind of snuck up on me. There is a lot going on in it. There were parts that I was not enjoying and were kind of a mess (mainly the Em/Emily parts in the past), and then I‘d find myself smiling or laughing out loud (very heartfelt parts relating to Lucy and hilarious parenting parts). It‘s a low pick, but the love of New York pushed it over. #LitsyToB24

squirrelbrain I agree - I loved the New York-ness of this one! 11mo
BarbaraBB Great review! I liked it while reading but it didn‘t really stick with me 11mo
Megabooks Fantastic review! This is definitely a NYC book. 11mo
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Chelsea.Poole I agree as well; it‘s a love letter to the city and the action/characters were secondary. 11mo
BarbaraBB Please don‘t forget to vote! Just one more day before the tournament starts! 9mo
32 likes6 comments
review
Larkken
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Pickpick

Low pick on this #litsytob for me. While I appreciate the characters Kois has created and the way friendships are at the center of character-building, these people seemed to me to exist as a vehicle for Kois to show us Big Happenings of NYC in the 90s and early 2000s. However, It was a pleasant enough way to crochet my way through this T-Rex head and the boredom of a truly grossly cold weekend.

Librarybelle That looks adorable! 11mo
BarbaraBB I see what you mean and I felt more or less the same 11mo
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Ruthiella I‘m curious to see how I find this one. 🤔 11mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 11mo
Larkken @Librarybelle thank you! I guess I am happy my cabin fever is being productive, for once? I'll post a Pic when I'm done. 11mo
39 likes6 comments
review
Deblovestoread
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Pickpick

I found having two MC‘s with the same name distracting but I quite enjoyed this story of two young women navigating NYC as young twenty somethings. 4🌟 #LitsyTOB #52Bookclub24 #Toldinnon-chronoligical

Hooked_on_books I loved this one! Especially how steeped it is in the world of books. 📚 ❤️ 11mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 11mo
Librarybelle On my to read list! I have to return my copy to the library but am getting back on the waiting list for it! 11mo
See All 9 Comments
BarbaraBB Glad you loved it! 11mo
Megabooks This was one of my favorites from our shortlist! 11mo
Ruthiella I‘m very curious about this one. I think I‘ll like it! 11mo
Suet624 Really glad you liked it. 11mo
squirrelbrain Glad you loved it too! 11mo
KarenUK My library hold just came in! Yay! 👍 11mo
72 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
Well-ReadNeck
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Bailedbailed

Ugh. I‘m working my way through the #LitsyToB24 list and this is my second DNF. I just didn‘t like these characters and about 1/3 in, just could not care less. Moving on!

BarbaraBB I did like Em but not the others 🤷🏻‍♀️ 12mo
44 likes1 comment
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fredthemoose
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️💫 This wasn‘t necessarily a bad book, but I kind of hated it. I didn‘t buy the Emily/Em friendship, or maybe I just disliked Emily so much that I didn‘t understand how anyone could be so devoted to her. Hated the blunt force foreshadowing from the timeline shifts. The #MeToo and casual racism conversations toward the end felt like an afterthought. It just got in its own way to me. Panning feels mean, but it a low so-so for me.

fredthemoose Forgot to post that this was for the #LitsyToB24 12mo
Megabooks I enjoyed the book but agree Emily was a frustrating character. 12mo
fredthemoose @Megabooks It really was not a bad book—the writing wasn‘t bad and it held my attention, I just didn‘t quite buy that friendship being one of lasting importance. My sister pointed out that that‘s a common complaint of mine, so definitely could be a me thing. 🤷‍♀️ 12mo
39 likes3 comments
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Addison_Reads
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Mehso-so

#tob24 long list

Perhaps it's me and not the book because, to be honest, I don't have anything negative to say about this read. It just didn't really resonate with me personally.

I can see the appeal for others with this book, but for me, it has a good premise/story and forgettable characters.

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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

It‘s hard to believe a man wrote this! This is a very female-centric novel and the characters were so perfectly crafted. This is definitely a case of “right book, right time” for me as I finished just as I was leaving for NYC and this book is a bit of a love letter to the city. Also really enjoyed Em‘s profession as an editor and the way she embraced that role, without the desire to become an author herself. Also Lucy 💔 #LitsyToB24

BarbaraBB Great review. You‘re right about Em, I liked that too. 12mo
Clare-Dragonfly I used to listen to a parenting podcast on which Dan was one of the hosts (the other two, at least while I listened, were both women) and from the way he talked about his wife and children—and talked to the other hosts—it does not surprise me that he would write a feminist novel. Also, I‘m amused that Rumaan, who guest hosted, blurbed the novel 😂 12mo
Megabooks Yes! 💯💯 agree. Have a fantastic trip! 12mo
Chelsea.Poole @Clare-Dragonfly I bet he‘s a great husband and father…or at least seems like he would be since he‘s so in tune with common emotions of motherhood through his character! I‘ll look out for his work 😊 12mo
77 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Jas16
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Mehso-so

I listened to this one on audio and it was a perfectly pleasant experience until I realized I just didn‘t care very much about any of. Em and Emily seemed more like ideas for characters rather than fully realized creations so although things kept happening to them over many decades I never felt impactful. Not a bad book. Just not one I would particularly recommend.
#litsytob24

squirrelbrain I really liked this, but it‘s great that we all have different views; it means the voting won‘t be a foregone conclusion. 12mo
Jas16 @squirrelbrain I really wanted to like it. It sounds like something that would be right up my alley. I agree that part of the fun is seeing everyone‘s diverging opinions. 12mo
sarahbarnes I felt the same way about this one. 12mo
BarbaraBB Me too! While I expected to like it a lot! 12mo
38 likes4 comments
review
BarbaraBB
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Mehso-so

I expected to love this one but I didn‘t really. I enjoyed reading it and I liked Em but it was a bit messy, so many plot lines (the dramaturgy, the #metoo, the food, the squad), sometimes coming out of nowhere, adding too little to what I thought was the point of the book. But I am not sure about that any longer. Anyhow, I am in the Rachel camp 😉 when it comes to the lives of young millennials! #LitsyToB24

Suet624 I‘m relieved you felt the same as I did about this book. 👯‍♀️ 12mo
Megabooks Sorry this wasn‘t a hit for you. I love the fancy restaurant though! Hope your meal was amazing! 💜 12mo
Jas16 I am listening on audio and have realized that I just don‘t care. 12mo
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BarbaraBB @Suet624 @jas16 I am glad to be in good company regarding this one, @sarahbarnes included 😉🩷 12mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I thought I‘d love it too 🤷🏻‍♀️. Did you read this one already 12mo
squirrelbrain I thought you‘d like this one! I haven‘t read The Rachel Incident yet…. 12mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I thought so too. And I enjoyed it but I think it won‘t stick with me. Can‘t wait to see what you‘ll think of 12mo
sarahbarnes So glad I‘m not the only one who didn‘t love this one. 😊 I‘m still very excited to read Rachel! 12mo
LeahBergen You look like you‘re dining at a lovely spot! 12mo
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen @Megabooks I did! Had a great culinary evening 💃 12mo
batsy Oh no! This sounds good in the description, sadly. 12mo
BarbaraBB @batsy Meg, Holly and Helen loved it so don‘t let my review discourage you 😀 12mo
Hooked_on_books @batsy It‘s SO much better than Rachel. 😉 12mo
BarbaraBB @batsy So now you really have to read it and choose sides 😂 @Hooked_on_books 12mo
Hooked_on_books 😂 12mo
batsy @BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books This just made it that much more exciting and I must check out both 😂 #VintagevsRachel 12mo
75 likes16 comments
review
Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

This is exactly why I love the TOB! This book wasn‘t on my radar at all and I just loved it. It explores friendships and making one‘s way in the world just out of college, capturing that uncertainty and lack of confidence so perfectly. I just loved it. #tob24

dabbe Hello, sweet pup! 🖤🐾🖤 13mo
squirrelbrain So glad you loved it too! ❤️ 13mo
BarbaraBB Can‘t wait to read it too! 13mo
See All 6 Comments
Megabooks This was just fantastic! 12mo
Megabooks And I agree that I love when a man can write compelling female characters! 12mo
Hooked_on_books @Megabooks Quite frankly, the more men that are able to write compelling female characters, the closer we will be to an equal world. Being able to write compelling women or relate concern about things that impact women suggests a closer understanding of our lived experience and is so important! I am frankly cheered when I see it. (edited) 12mo
51 likes3 stack adds6 comments
review
Suet624
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Mehso-so

I listened to this while reading The Rachel Incident. I stopped listening because Rachel was so much more interesting to me. I never felt connected to Emily or Em (and why do the two main characters have the same name?). There was a section about a fight with police for housing and squatter‘s rights. I perked up at that point. Otherwise, it was just okay for me. #TOB24

Ruthiella I wonder if you had read this further in time from The Rachel Incident, would you feel differently? 🤔 13mo
Suet624 @Ruthiella I wonder that too. 13mo
squirrelbrain I wondered that too @Ruthiella - sorry you didn‘t love it, Sue. 🤨 13mo
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Suet624 @Ruthiella @squirrelbrain another thing I need to keep in mind is that audio fiction is not my friend. I‘m more able to engage with nonfiction on audio. (edited) 13mo
MicheleinPhilly Oh no! 2 main characters with the same name??? WHY? I can barely deal when an author names all of their characters with the same first letter! 13mo
Hooked_on_books I‘ve been making my way through the ebook of this one and really enjoying it. A bummer it didn‘t work out as well for you! 13mo
Suet624 @MicheleinPhilly Right? There's a lot about this book that had me wondering... the fact that a man wrote it somehow factored into my assessment of the book, (which I know sounds bad) but it was so strange to hear about female friendships and being pregnant and nursing from a man. 13mo
Suet624 @Hooked_on_books I'm as confused about why this book didn't really appeal to me as I was when I read The Bee Sting. The Bee Sting is on every prize and best of list and I just felt more annoyed by it than anything. I kind of feel the same way with this book. Also, see what I wrote to Michele about the qualms I had about the author. (edited) 13mo
Well-ReadNeck @Suet624 YES to all that about The Bee Sting. 13mo
Hooked_on_books I have definitely disliked books (or not disliked, but not had them work well for me) that I feel I should like and/or that everyone else seems to love, so I hear you! And I get struggling with a book when having qualms about an author. For me, I love it when men write really good, well developed female characters who feel real, as it seems this happens infrequently, so for me that really works. But I‘m glad the other one worked for you! (edited) 13mo
sarahbarnes I felt much the same way while reading this one. Incidentally I also felt the same way about The Bee Sting although I‘ll admit I didn‘t finish it. I‘m glad I‘m not alone in feeling lukewarm about this one at least. 13mo
Suet624 @Well-ReadNeck Every time I see that book on a list I start to grumble. 12mo
Suet624 @Hooked_on_books You're right, of course. I'm 100% sure I've read some good novels with female characters written by men. 12mo
Suet624 @sarahbarnes I have a feeling that if you had finished Bee Sting you would have thrown it across the floor. The ending was ridiculous. And I'm glad to hear we have similar opinions on these two books. :) 12mo
56 likes1 stack add14 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I loved this #ToB longlisted book, one I had never even heard of beforehand, so I very much doubt I would have read it, if it weren‘t for the ToB.

Em makes 2 friends in NYC in 1991, one who lives in a squat and one who was at college with her mum, and we follow their lives over a few years and also years later, in 2006.

It‘s one of those ‘quiet‘ books where there is no particular story arc, no big reveal, and no twist; just how I like my books!

tpixie Then you might like this author and book 13mo
TrishB Sounds good 👍🏻 13mo
squirrelbrain Thanks @tpixie - I‘ll look out for those. 13mo
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BarbaraBB Great review. I got my copy today too. 13mo
youneverarrived Great photo and the book sounds like one I would love too! 13mo
Megabooks Agree! Great review!! 💜💜 13mo
Hooked_on_books I‘m not very far in and am loving it too. This is why I enjoy the TOB! 13mo
squirrelbrain I think you would really enjoy it @youneverarrived 13mo
82 likes6 stack adds8 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
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Reading with a view on the wild and woolly Yorkshire Coast.

Been out for a walk on the beach and a scone; now to spend the rest of the day cosied up with a pile of books, a blanket and maybe a jigsaw.

Started the tagged book last night and loving it so far.

TrishB Looks great 😁 enjoy your break. 13mo
batsy Gosh, that view! 😍 13mo
AmyG Lovely! 13mo
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Caroline2 Looks so lovey. Enjoy. 👍 13mo
Tamra Ooooo reminds me of one of my most beloved novels, Wuthering Heights. Do I have the setting right? (edited) 13mo
eraderneely Where were you? We were at Saltburn by the Sea and it was *brisk* today for sure! 13mo
squirrelbrain @tamra - we‘re at the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, but Wuthering Heights is further inland. We‘re in Dracula country - in fact I can see Whitby Abbey from my sofa. 13mo
squirrelbrain @eraderneely - ah, I hope you had a lovely, if blustery, birthday day out! We‘re in Sandsend, so not far away at all! We may nip up to Saltburn for a trip out, weather dependent! 13mo
Tamra @squirrelbrain 🧛🏾‍♀️🦇 be safe! 13mo
TheBookgeekFrau What a view!! 😍 13mo
julesG Wonderful view! Enjoy your break! Get some garlic bread, for just in case. 😁 13mo
Deblovestoread Lovely view and great stack of books. Enjoy! 13mo
Ruthiella Sounds perfect. Enjoy! 📚☕️🛋️ 13mo
eraderneely Ah, love Sandsend. Have a great trip. My birthday day out was lovely, thanks! 13mo
squirrelbrain @tamra @julesG - will curry work as well as garlic bread do you think?! 🤣 🧛‍♀️ 13mo
Tamra @squirrelbrain 🤣 Go with curry! 13mo
BarbaraBB That looks and sounds perfect! Enjoy to the max ❤️ 13mo
Megabooks Looks beautiful! Have a great time!! 🫶🏻 13mo
Centique That looks wonderfull! Enjoy! 💕 13mo
72 likes19 comments
quote
Hooked_on_books
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😍

tpixie 😂 13mo
tpixie And used ‘ literally‘ as a pun! 13mo
TrishB Love it 😁 13mo
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squirrelbrain I started this last night and nearly posted this quote! 🤣 I‘m loving it so far. 13mo
BarbaraBB Love this! I purchased a copy too, after @Megabooks review! 13mo
CarolynM I think they‘re describing my house🤔😆 13mo
Librarybelle Me too, @CarolynM 😂 13mo
Ruthiella I loved this quote too. 😃 10mo
42 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
Megabooks
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Pickpick

These emotional, reflective books that look back at small pivotal moments in a person‘s life are my jam, so this has rocketed to near the top of my current #tob24 faves!

Emily, who works in publishing, has two very different close friends in her 20s: another Emily, a magnetic, cool wannabe playwright living in a squat, and Lucy, a writer friend of her mother‘s who is facing a health crisis. Kois explores these friendships over 4 pivotal years.

Megabooks Fyi the audio narration is great. The book is nonlinear jumping from 1991 to 2005 to 1993 to 2007 with Emily in her 20s and 30s. 13mo
squirrelbrain Great review! In fact it‘s made me pick it up first out of my #ToB pile and I‘m about to start reading it now. 13mo
BarbaraBB I didn‘t immediately buy it but now it feels like a must read 13mo
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Megabooks @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB I think you‘d both like this one! I hope you‘re enjoying it now, H. Have a lovely getaway! B, I think you‘d like the cultural touchstone moments (music and such) as Emily is your age. 💜 also, I finally sent you each an email tonight! Thank you both for not giving up on me! 🫶🏻 13mo
BarbaraBB ❤️❤️ 13mo
squirrelbrain I loved the book @Megabooks - I‘ll reply back to your email soon 😘 13mo
Suet624 I just saw it was on Hoopla! 13mo
Megabooks @Suet624 I can‘t believe I missed that it was on hoopla. But I don‘t mind owning VC. I just started this one that‘s also on hoopla after dinner tonight. (edited) 13mo
Suet624 Thanks for letting me know about Mobility! I'll grab that as soon as I can. 13mo
Megabooks @Suet624 I‘m really enjoying it. Even at 63% in I‘m unsure of what‘s in the future for these characters. I like feeling unbalanced like that sometimes. 13mo
67 likes10 comments
review
sarahbarnes
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Mehso-so

This sounded like the kind of book I would love. A fictional account of part of the book publishing world, a book about books and people who love them. But the execution was a bit of a miss for me. There was enough here to keep me reading until the end, but it often felt disjointed and two dimensional.

merelybookish Hmmm I read a review elsewhere that really made me want to read this. But seeing this makes me think I may be disappointed. 🤔 1y
sarahbarnes @merelybookish I thought I would like it more. Maybe it was just me? I‘ll be interested to hear your thoughts if you read it. 1y
Suet624 It‘s not just you. 🥴 13mo
29 likes3 comments