Real Rating: 2.5* of five

My goodness, was this book trying too hard. I don't know what the heck was so transgressive as to give the author the idea a warning of the D/s lifestyle was necessary, but the warning I needed was about how awful all the women were. Terrible, thoughtless, rude. I just don't want to read any more about any of them.

Well, this was not one of my top books of the year. I knew it would be a different kind of book, but I just had a hard time following along. So many of the female characters went by other names. I couldn't tell if the book was going forward in time or if it was skipping around. It just took a lot more thinking than I want to have to do while reading a book.

This book is a modern version of Fear in Loathing in Las Vegas that truly captures the gritty grungy messed up time otherwise known as the 90’s. This book starts with a warning which hopefully will help people decide if the non-PC reflection back in time is for them. Jo states that this book is semi-autobiographical, and it feels that way. The characters are fleshed out in dark ways that still make you feel compassion and empathy. You feel like you are reading journal entries of a twenty-something year old male containing the exploits of him and his friends. Interjected between the short, interconnected stories are these chapters that read like Avant Garde poetry and contain artwork like a zine. The book is a beautiful and twisty look back on a life lived on the edge.

I tried extremely hard to understand this book and to find any redeeming qualities, but I failed. I slogged through every page and hated virtually all of them. Some individual sections were ok and would have been better had there been some, any, continuity, but everything was disjointed and convoluted and, frankly, boring. I don’t think my reaction has anything to do with the fact that I am not of the Gen X generation, as I think a lot of what occurs in the book has been occurring in some ways for several decades—sex, drugs, disenfranchisement, poverty. I just think the book is poorly written and disorganized.

I thank the author of this book, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book. My opinion is purely VOLUNTARY.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

Surviving Gen X brought me back to the 90s.. Not as Gene in Vegas, but a 13 year old that read stories (mostly fiction) from a local free magazine. Just raw uncensored emotions and I don't think I have read anything similar since.

I loved these stories, and I'm in awe of all these characters that you introduced to the world

We follow an unnamed protagonist and a battered homemaker through the streets of 1990s Las Vegas. Amidst the chaos lies a nostalgic undercurrent that isn’t as strong as I thought it would be. But even though it was a lightly confusing at first as we jumped around from scene to scene, I started to enjoy the fever dream this novel captured.

Overall, it was an interesting read with the feel of “Fear and Loathing” and a subtle hint of the 90’s.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know what I just read.. I felt like it was all over the place. Could not connect with the characters and I had a hard time following the story.

This book was so different, and even though at the beginning it was hard to connect with the characters, I started to really like them towards the end. I can understand people getting lost and not connecting with the characters and what’s going on around them because one of the main characters isn’t named, but for sure this book is different. The flow was a little slow building.

I have no real idea of what I just read. I imagine the book was a perfect mirror to the authors mind, jumbled, dark and full of half remembered reminiscences.
I had no problem with the language or content and I can’t fault the fluid easy reading style of writing. I just couldn’t find a connection that made me care, just like the characters.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

This book was not for me. While I appreciate the disclaimer at the beginning that certain things were going to be depicted as they were in the 90s because that's how they were and {shrug} goshdarnit that's how it's gonna be, the use of deplorable language and othering just in the first chapters was enough for me to DNF the book. I also lived through the 90s and said things we no longer say, but I don't find a need to glorify it as "nostalgia". Sorry. Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to try.

Although I see the potential and appreciate the writing quality, this book just wasn't for me. Initially, it caught my interest, but as I progressed, I found the plot becoming redundant. As someone who typically enjoys literary fiction, I was disappointed that I was unable to connect with any aspect of the book. This lack of connection is likely what made it difficult for me to enjoy it. That being said, I think that other readers may find it appealing, even though it didn't resonate with me personally.

I can see the appeal of this book. It’s oddly immersive and the way it is written is exceptionally descriptive, albeit in an unconventional way. It’s not really plot driven so if you are looking for a story, maybe best try something else.

I'm not quite sure what I just read. It was odd and difficult to follow. I was surprised at the length of the book for how unclear the story was. I thank NetGalley for the ARC. Two stars.

The time period is one that gives me a nostalgic feel so I was excited to delve into the darker universe of this book. I enjoyed the real and gritty feel if this book.