You can’t help but worry when you pick up a book and take an instant dislike to the protagonist. Will I finish this book? Can I tolerate such a character? Is this just going to make me angry? Thankfully, for me, this became a hate-to-love relationship that made me ever so grateful for persevering.
So, what made me dislike Effie so much, so quickly? Well, it’s her attitude! She is so negative, so despondent and so miserable, that it took every ounce of my own energy to not meet on her this pessimistic level. Yet, through this mist of misery there is an undeniable crudeness and sarcasm. Effie knows that she is a miserable cow, she knows that she hasn’t made much of her life, and is completely aware that she pushes everyone away from herself. And it was this quality that made me start to really like Effie. She is honest, she is humorously sarcastic and I liked her internal monologue. I could relate to her feelings of self-doubt and as a result, wanted to see her get out of the depressing, cyclical rut that she was stuck in.
Poor Effie! She doesn’t realise how good she has things until they start to crumble away. Her relationship with Theo and the subsequent ‘To Do’ list reminded me very much of Jojo Moyes and 'Me Before You'. This was a feeling that stayed with me throughout the story, even though it wasn’t the same, and I think this is why I fell in love with the plot. Theo comes across as Effie’s hero but his secret sends things crashing down, just as Effie is starting to trust herself. Her downfall is tragic and I could not predict how she would turn herself around.
I loved watching Effie’s journey and was delighted in the eventual parallels that are revealed between her and Theo. It was lovely to see Effie realise she isn’t so worthless and to watch her learn to love herself. Those feelings of low self-esteem made her such a believable character that I don’t think any reader would struggle to understand her feelings.
Although I may have conflicted with Effie to begin with, I fell in love with this story – a bit like Effie’s journey herself. Her struggles and pains felt real and I was rooting for her to succeed. This is a powerful story that isn’t just about love and relationships, but acceptance: acceptance for who you are and believing in yourself. I am excited by this debut novel from Sunderland and can’t wait to see what comes next.
So, what made me dislike Effie so much, so quickly? Well, it’s her attitude! She is so negative, so despondent and so miserable, that it took every ounce of my own energy to not meet on her this pessimistic level. Yet, through this mist of misery there is an undeniable crudeness and sarcasm. Effie knows that she is a miserable cow, she knows that she hasn’t made much of her life, and is completely aware that she pushes everyone away from herself. And it was this quality that made me start to really like Effie. She is honest, she is humorously sarcastic and I liked her internal monologue. I could relate to her feelings of self-doubt and as a result, wanted to see her get out of the depressing, cyclical rut that she was stuck in.
Poor Effie! She doesn’t realise how good she has things until they start to crumble away. Her relationship with Theo and the subsequent ‘To Do’ list reminded me very much of Jojo Moyes and 'Me Before You'. This was a feeling that stayed with me throughout the story, even though it wasn’t the same, and I think this is why I fell in love with the plot. Theo comes across as Effie’s hero but his secret sends things crashing down, just as Effie is starting to trust herself. Her downfall is tragic and I could not predict how she would turn herself around.
I loved watching Effie’s journey and was delighted in the eventual parallels that are revealed between her and Theo. It was lovely to see Effie realise she isn’t so worthless and to watch her learn to love herself. Those feelings of low self-esteem made her such a believable character that I don’t think any reader would struggle to understand her feelings.
Although I may have conflicted with Effie to begin with, I fell in love with this story – a bit like Effie’s journey herself. Her struggles and pains felt real and I was rooting for her to succeed. This is a powerful story that isn’t just about love and relationships, but acceptance: acceptance for who you are and believing in yourself. I am excited by this debut novel from Sunderland and can’t wait to see what comes next.