3 Highly Acclaimed Novels That Left Me (Very) Disappointed
Perhaps you should give these a miss.
There are two kinds of disappointment a reader experiences after turning the last page of a highly anticipated book which did not deliver.
First, the crushing embarrassment of having trusted untruthful reviews that turned an average-at-best work into a must-read for commercial gain.
Second, the painful realisation of the book’s unexplored potential, when a brilliant premise is followed by a lacking execution.
The below selection concerns the second kind.
Here’s a set of novels that left me wanting more: more depth, more feeling, more, more...
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
Milk Fed follows a young Jewish woman, promising a funny exploration of food, sex and body. A delicate combination of food addiction, childhood trauma and sexuality, Milk Fed was set to be an extraordinary success.
Having just finished The Pisces by Melissa Broder, which topped my favourite novels of the year, I was eager to delve into Milk Fed — yet it did not deliver.
While touching on the above topics, the novel left me lukewarm. With a heavy focus towards disordered eating and self-control, it was interesting to observe but failed to excite to the same standard as its predecessor.
Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi
Diary of a Void offers a perception so unique that I doubt I will ever read a book quite like it. Following Ms Shibata, tired of being demeaned by men at her workplace, the novel explores an odd concept — a pretend pregnancy.
When Ms Shibata announces she is expecting, her life changes for the better. The problem is, she is not expecting.
Diary of a Void did a fantastic job blurring the boundaries between reality and fabrication, yet fell short of brilliance. I rushed through the book in one sitting, hoping the concept would resolve itself through added meaning, but was left underwhelmed — while incredibly appealing in its premise, Diary of a Void lacked a meaningful conclusion.
They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey
They’re Going to Love You was one of my Amazon recommendations. For the most part, it matches me with novels that fit the requirements — contemporary, relatable, meaningful.
While fitting the criteria, They’re Going to Love You failed to fit the feeling. What started as a five-star read, evolved into a so-what read, leaving me with a taste of wasted time.
The novel follows Carlisle, a woman forced to face her past after learning her distant father is dying. A 200-page build-up towards the key event holding together the mystery of the book did not justify the emotion leading up to it. While written beautifully, They’re Going to Love You failed to impress on a level it was sold.
