Contemporary Literature

Rachel Weiss Group Chat by Lauren Applebaum

Jeanna 

Not for me

Genre: Contemporary Literature/ retelling

Published 2024 (Free advanced copy provided by Forever Publications )

Soundtrack: Good Graces – Sabrina Carpenter


Do you ever read a book waiting for the unlikable main character to redeem themselves? I think sometimes there is just nothing to like

Our MC, Rachel Weiss, is many things: selfish, immature, superficial, and using alcohol as a crutch. She is in a dead-end job, seeks emotionally unavailable men, and has a mother desperate to marry her off. The writing depicts her in such a harsh light that I just wanted the book to be over by the time she begins working on herself.

I am grasping for positives, so I will say that I enjoyed the formatting of this book and the use of text messages and DMs to move along the plot, but I honestly wish there was more of that and less of Rachel’s inner thoughts.

Perhaps Applebaum could have excelled with this concept had the characters been in their early 20s rather than turning 30. Their actions seemed more relatable to someone who had just graduated college than to someone who was 30 years old.

A considerable miss here was the lack of connection in every relationship. We got brief glimpses into each: Rachel and her mother, Rachel and her sisters, and Rachel and her three best friends, but none of them were thoroughly flushed out, and often, once they were the center of attention, they disappeared from the plot. I think fewer side plots would have done this book wonders

A quote I enjoyed

There was a somewhat diverse cast of supporting characters, but again, there were so many that I didn’t get the depth I craved from any of them!

Finally, don’t even get me started on the romantic subplot with no connection or interaction, and then they fall in love?! It wasn’t easy to read.

The writing felt like it was supposed to be ironic, but unfortunately, it just fell flat, and Rachel’s flippant nature dominated the narrative.

Also, in the year 2024, I cannot support any book that has people crying over being single at 30… just so shallow.

To end on a positive note, I did find parts of the writing humorous.




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