busia1999's Book Journey

Mediocre book. I think it could have been really great if the author had a chance to sit on the story but I’m guessing the publisher pushed it as fast as possible to make more money. As a result the story is half-baked.

I wouldn’t go as far to say the book is racist (I think the term should be reserved for more serious issues) but it definitely suggests the author has no interest in cultures outside of the West. Firstly, she makes a guy who apparently died in 450BC in Ancient Greece white. I’m sure there were some pale people in there but likely he looked closer to Lebanese/Palestinian person than a British person.

Secondly, she chooses to give the ancient being, older than death itself, a British accent. Really. This ancient being has seen every civilisation under the sun, which were more successful, more impactful, and lasted for longer than the British Empire but sure he chooses a British accent. His name is also Gideon which is a Hebrew name. So what was his name for thousands of years before Judaism existed?

Also the name of MMC - Gabriel - Gabriel is a Hebrew name. At the time of Gabriel’s death in this book (he claims he dies in 450BC), Ancient Greeks barely knew who the fuck Jewish people are. They were most definitely not naming people after Jewish religion.

Also, there is a joke „Asian people bring their smelly foods into the office” but I believe it’s now being omitted in the newest print version so you might not see it.

I think the Good Place did „afterlife as bureaucracy” much better and it was actually thought out. Here, the rules make no sense. And if something doesn’t make sense it’s explained away as „hahaha office jobs am I right.”

The ending is so bad. It hinges on our MMC not understanding his job for 2000 years. And even the book calls it out as making zero sense. And how it’s explained away? „You didn’t go to your job orientation?” Hahaha office jobs hahahaha.

This isn’t enemies to lovers. It isn’t grumpy x grumpy. The romance feels very manufactured. Like this woman had a checklist for scenes that would be talked about on tik tok and wrote them. She might not have. But because she hit every single possible thing that booktok likes it comes off as really fake and manufactured. To the point it genuinely pulls you out of the book because it makes you think of booktok and if the author thinking about booktok. I think booktok is so saturated now with these scenes that it’s to actual detriment to put them in the book because they scream „wink wink booktok wink wink”

Also, this feels like an ad for smoking. I didn’t mind it that much, even though I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life because it kinda made sense for both characters to smoke (and they’re both dead so who cares about lung cancer) but the romanisation of cigs is very strong in this book