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A review by laura_de_leon
I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson
3.0
This book did not start out well for me. If I hadn't been reading it for book club, I would not have continued past the first third or so.
The first half of the book takes place when Petra and her friends are young teens, obsessed with David Cassidy, and having the sort of problems that girls in books (and real life) often seem to have-- Bullying, friendship issues, parental problems...
Since the David Cassidy connection didn't speak to me, it just felt like a book I'd read before, with characters that I didn't particularly want to spend time with.
I think this is a book where listening to the audio really got in the way for me.
First, the narrators voice was not that of a young teen (the Petra sections were first person), which isn't a showstopper, but it didn't help, either.
Second, the book moves between Petra's story and that of Bill (a young journalist writing for the David Cassidy magazine that Petra and her friends pour over), and excerpts from the David Cassidy magazine. Looking at the printed book, I think this would have broken up the experience more-- I would have felt the "Bill" sections gave me more of a break if I hadn't still been hearing Petra's voice. The magazine excerpts had a completely different look, which also would have served as a chance to take a breath, away from Petra and her friends.
I don't think I would have loved this first part in print, but I also don't think I would have been longing to stop reading.
Luckily, the second half worked much better for me. I found it a pleasant enough read, and the narrator's voice fit the adult Petra much better (although since it is no longer first person, it isn't such an issue).
I enjoyed Petra's escape from her life as she gets a chance to meet her childhood crush, reconnects with her childhood friend, and gets a chance to move on from her more recent hurts in her life.
Bill was actually my favorite character in both halves of the book, but even he isn't particularly memorable.
I'm glad it improved for me, but it still won't be one of my favorite books of the year.
The first half of the book takes place when Petra and her friends are young teens, obsessed with David Cassidy, and having the sort of problems that girls in books (and real life) often seem to have-- Bullying, friendship issues, parental problems...
Since the David Cassidy connection didn't speak to me, it just felt like a book I'd read before, with characters that I didn't particularly want to spend time with.
I think this is a book where listening to the audio really got in the way for me.
First, the narrators voice was not that of a young teen (the Petra sections were first person), which isn't a showstopper, but it didn't help, either.
Second, the book moves between Petra's story and that of Bill (a young journalist writing for the David Cassidy magazine that Petra and her friends pour over), and excerpts from the David Cassidy magazine. Looking at the printed book, I think this would have broken up the experience more-- I would have felt the "Bill" sections gave me more of a break if I hadn't still been hearing Petra's voice. The magazine excerpts had a completely different look, which also would have served as a chance to take a breath, away from Petra and her friends.
I don't think I would have loved this first part in print, but I also don't think I would have been longing to stop reading.
Luckily, the second half worked much better for me. I found it a pleasant enough read, and the narrator's voice fit the adult Petra much better (although since it is no longer first person, it isn't such an issue).
I enjoyed Petra's escape from her life as she gets a chance to meet her childhood crush, reconnects with her childhood friend, and gets a chance to move on from her more recent hurts in her life.
Bill was actually my favorite character in both halves of the book, but even he isn't particularly memorable.
I'm glad it improved for me, but it still won't be one of my favorite books of the year.