So powerful and yet so familiar

I loved this authors grasp on the nuances of modern relationships. It spoke to me and rose rages I have felt, but been unable to put into words. The off hand, bored tone of the narrator threw me at first, but I soon realised it's just perfection. So good!

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Unexpected, weird and thrilling

This is the kind of book that toys with the most shameful parts of your mind in an undeniably thrilling way. The anonymity of the characters means that each reader builds their own image of them. It feels like a test. It also feels like a drunken encounter where you hear the juiciest things from the randomest person. It was truly unique and addictive.

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1 person found this helpful

Devoured

Excellent book and perfect narration for the story: the story is essentially the narrator's voice itself, so it makes for one of those books that's better as an audiobook somehow. Very real story, built around race, social and political commentary, and exploring the power unimpressive men can have over intelligent women because the system is so rigged in their favour. It's smart and compelling and will feel familiar to many women. Listen to this if you like Sally Rooney. Don't listen to this without headphones with your kids.

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1 person found this helpful

The greatest book I have read in a long time!

I absolutely loved this book! It felt like a great depiction of a modern day romance, intertwined with the power dynamics of gender and race. I think it was also a great take on how social media becomes confused with reality and how disconnected we can become from ourselves and others. The fast pace and purposefully disjointed manner it is written reflects the pain of the main character to try and make sense of the world as a woman of colour. I felt educated by this book, actually, particularly around how authors of colour feel around having to change or to make an impression in a certain way to succeed in a white male dominated literary world. Wow! Look forward to read this author's next book!

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Fabulous and unique

A real gripping read. I listened to in a handful of sittings. Enthralled. I heard this reviewed on Cariad Lloyd and Sara Pascoe’s podcast - book club for weirdos. Really glad I gave it a listen. I will read again. Definitely recommended.

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Phenomenal!!

I absolutely loved this intelligent, beautifully written shocker of a story. Everyone in today's society should read this. An absolute 5/5 from me and I cannot wait to read/devour everything that Sheena Patel writes. A new face author I think!!

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3 people found this helpful

Great but skip the build up

Amazing in the end but could have started 50% in...
too much about the obsession before the analysis starts, I was screaming BUT WHY for the first half!

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Devoured

Heard about this book on the Weirdos Bookclub podcast and immediately felt hooked by the premise. An addictive portrayal of obsession, it makes you want to immediately delete all social media and take a long walk outside. One of those stories with ‘car crash’ likeability - I just couldn’t look away! I want to read everything Patel writes about.

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Very real

Every sentence was like sharp teeth munching on my brain. I loved it, and the reading was good too

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Masterpiece

Very clever cultural, political commentary and so on point!
Narrator is supposed to be “unlikable” but I can’t help but “feel” her pain. It’s so well done!

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