Well this was just awful.
While I did enjoy parts of the story and some of the conversations, especially those between Simon and Eileen, this book just wasn‘t for me. I realise that there is probably some ✨philosophical, deep layer ✨ that I just don‘t get but if there is indeed something deep about this, it failed to move me. The writing style is clinical and detached, which made me feel like I was witnessing this story from five feet away and through a glass window. The author‘s choice not to use quotation marks was at best a stilistic device to add to this detachment and at worst just plain annoying. Half the book is composed of emails that are sent back and forth between two of the characters from the book and I have to admit I started skimming them at some point. They just read like the author used those emails as a mouthpiece for her own oh-so-clever opinions. I didn‘t really disagree with anything the emails said, it just felt like she was rubbing it in how smart she was for having had those thoughts. Last but not least: every single one of our four main characters was absolutely insufferable. Simon and Eileen were okay, a bit annoying and egocentric, sure, but OH MY GOD don‘t get me started on Alice and Felix. I could rage for hours about how they‘re both despicable people. Oh and also: What on EARTH were those spicy scenes??? Maybe it‘s just the german translation but I don‘t think I‘ve ever read spice this bad.


























































