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As Young as This
Elliot. Joe. Tommy. Nathanael. Wren. Oliver. Malik. Zach. Frank. Patrick. Noah. These are the men Margot has loved, liked, lusted over. Since she was seventeen she has always pictured them like stepping stones. Waypoints on her quest to find someone to share her life with and, eventually, to father the children she's always imagined in her future.
When it comes to dating, Margot's had the good, the bad, and the downright embarrassing - from her first kiss to her first time, from the mistakes she'd rather forget to the heartbreak she'll always remember. And for a while it really did seem that those stepping stones had led her to the one.
So how did she find herself here, thirty-four, alone and about to make the biggest decision of her life?
This was never meant to be part of her story.
Fresh, funny and full of heart, As Young as This is an irresistible debut novel about the people that shape us, the plans we make for our lives, and what it means to let go of them, from a major new talent.
When it comes to dating, Margot's had the good, the bad, and the downright embarrassing - from her first kiss to her first time, from the mistakes she'd rather forget to the heartbreak she'll always remember. And for a while it really did seem that those stepping stones had led her to the one.
So how did she find herself here, thirty-four, alone and about to make the biggest decision of her life?
This was never meant to be part of her story.
Fresh, funny and full of heart, As Young as This is an irresistible debut novel about the people that shape us, the plans we make for our lives, and what it means to let go of them, from a major new talent.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
About the author
Roxy Dunn
3 books10 followersAs Young as This is Roxy Dunn’s debut novel. Prior to writing it, she spent a decade working as an actor and writer for theatre, film and television, performing in multiple television sitcoms and receiving sell-out runs of her shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and SOHO Theatre. Alongside being an author, she works regularly as a voiceover artist and screenwriter and is an alumni of the BBC Comedy Writersroom. Her scripts have been optioned by several production companies and her pilot Useless Millennials was commissioned and broadcast on BBC Radio 4. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 15, 2024
Updating my review 3 months after I finished this book in hindsight, I review this fairly averagely after reading it but have found myself thinking about it regularly over the last few months and think I have been to harsh. Moving from 3 stars to 4. I think the concept of this book was really interesting, having each chapter be about a different relationship she had in her life etc and to follow her story and growth this way was clever. It highlighted how different relationships shape us and structure our lives. The characters are flawed and complex, which in my opinion are the best kind of characters to read about and you do get to watch them grow and develop as the story goes on. I've found myself recommending this book to several friends over the last fews months and will continue to. Especially if you have been a fan of the Dolly Alderton, Rosewater etc style of book.
Original review:
One of my favourite the genres “young women living in London trying to figure out what she’s doing with her life” (relatable content) this was another good story with this premise. Focusing on all the different men she’d been with in her life and how this shaped her and changed her through her life. I like the premise I enjoyed the story I just wasn’t blown away.
Thank you for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Original review:
One of my favourite the genres “young women living in London trying to figure out what she’s doing with her life” (relatable content) this was another good story with this premise. Focusing on all the different men she’d been with in her life and how this shaped her and changed her through her life. I like the premise I enjoyed the story I just wasn’t blown away.
Thank you for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
September 8, 2024
Hands down one of the best books I've read this year, sharing the first places with Blue Sisters and Evenings and Weekends.
Margot's idea of men as stepping stones is what I believe to be a universal experience of all the girls who were raised on the premise of "the one" waiting for them out there and being complete only once you've found that person. Roxy Dunn has brilliantly captured the various experiences of being in love and its different forms. She guides us through all kinds of it - from ambiguous situationships to long committed partnerships, the certainty of finding your person to fleeting lust, the everlasting love we share with our friends and family to the momentary affection. Throughout Margot's story we will experience the pain of a heartbreak, the desire to get her happily ever after and the growing pains along with the inevitable realizations on love and life that shape us as humans.
Margot's idea of men as stepping stones is what I believe to be a universal experience of all the girls who were raised on the premise of "the one" waiting for them out there and being complete only once you've found that person. Roxy Dunn has brilliantly captured the various experiences of being in love and its different forms. She guides us through all kinds of it - from ambiguous situationships to long committed partnerships, the certainty of finding your person to fleeting lust, the everlasting love we share with our friends and family to the momentary affection. Throughout Margot's story we will experience the pain of a heartbreak, the desire to get her happily ever after and the growing pains along with the inevitable realizations on love and life that shape us as humans.
August 9, 2024
Unsure how to review this because the writing was phenomenal and I believe Roxy has great potential as a novelist but I wasn’t awed by the end of it at all. I wasn’t sure I’d like the premise of the book when I was purchasing it but came to really love it after reading the first couple chapters, specially because of her wit and dry sense of humour. She has some great passages in there - I did loads of underlining and note writing, particularly during the first half of the book.
But as the ending approached I started feeling quite detached from it. For starters, it felt slightly like there was less purpose and thought put into the words. Also, there were some aspects of it that genuinely started bothering me. For instance, a main character with basically no job but seemingly un struggling in London, and traveling abroad with a frequency - I’m guessing thanks to her parents? I feel like the struggle with her career while living in the most expensive city in the UK wasn’t highlighted enough at all for a self-proclaimed analytical person. And that’s the second thing that bugs me. Throughout the book Margot is referred to as very practical, critical, dry and logical. But I felt a huge dissonance between that description and how I actually perceived the character. She didn’t seem to be any of those things to me! I did really like her consistency as a character but I’m not sure Margot is what the author wanted her to be in the first place. It kind of seems like she ran away from Roxy.
All this brings me to some sort of inner debate. Is my issue with the book that Margot doesn’t seem to be focused enough on her career development and too focused on love and family? Can you only be one or the other? As a woman, should I judge her for directing all that energy at the men in her life and for prioritising having children? I don’t think I should, and that’s not necessarily what I was doing but then why am I expecting her to dwell more on her work when - even if acting is her passion - having a family is her ultimate happy goal? (Maybe what I dislike about the book is what I dislike about myself?)
So in all, I’m unsure. The writing begs a 4 star review from me but I’m sticking with a 3 for now because of the things mentioned above and that the ending wasn’t as strong as I’d expected. Might come back and update once a couple weeks have gone by.
But as the ending approached I started feeling quite detached from it. For starters, it felt slightly like there was less purpose and thought put into the words. Also, there were some aspects of it that genuinely started bothering me. For instance, a main character with basically no job but seemingly un struggling in London, and traveling abroad with a frequency - I’m guessing thanks to her parents? I feel like the struggle with her career while living in the most expensive city in the UK wasn’t highlighted enough at all for a self-proclaimed analytical person. And that’s the second thing that bugs me. Throughout the book Margot is referred to as very practical, critical, dry and logical. But I felt a huge dissonance between that description and how I actually perceived the character. She didn’t seem to be any of those things to me! I did really like her consistency as a character but I’m not sure Margot is what the author wanted her to be in the first place. It kind of seems like she ran away from Roxy.
All this brings me to some sort of inner debate. Is my issue with the book that Margot doesn’t seem to be focused enough on her career development and too focused on love and family? Can you only be one or the other? As a woman, should I judge her for directing all that energy at the men in her life and for prioritising having children? I don’t think I should, and that’s not necessarily what I was doing but then why am I expecting her to dwell more on her work when - even if acting is her passion - having a family is her ultimate happy goal? (Maybe what I dislike about the book is what I dislike about myself?)
So in all, I’m unsure. The writing begs a 4 star review from me but I’m sticking with a 3 for now because of the things mentioned above and that the ending wasn’t as strong as I’d expected. Might come back and update once a couple weeks have gone by.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💬 “Do you regret any of them?”
💭 Roxy Dunn’s debut novel offers a fresh, painfully-truthful look at love, the plans we make, and what we do when they all go wrong. With many a laugh out loud moment mixed with some more poignant, heartfelt messages, this was a fantastic read.
On the brink of a big decision, Margot reflects on all the men she has ever loved: Elliot, Joe, Tommy, Nathanael, Wren, Oliver, Malik, Zach, Frank, Patrick, Noah. They all had something different to offer - whether it’s first love, sex spas, a secret affair, or a stand up comedy routine (or two) - and she is not afraid to look back at the good, the bad, and the downright embarrassing. Especially when she’s found ‘the one’ and things are looking up. But for how long?
Although it took me a little while to get into, I ended up loving the choice of second person narration. Sometimes I find it harder to engage with this narration style, often feeling a sense of detachment from the characters and their feelings, but this time it worked for me. I felt the very nature of the book - a reminiscent look back to all her past loves - really leant itself to this style too as it allowed Margot space to reflect on her past experiences knowing what she knows now, years into the future. It almost felt as if I was reading an old diary, with a few thoughts from the future sprinkled in.
Margot herself was at many times incredibly frustrating, and often self-indulgent, but also extremely relatable and entirely loveable; someone you want to both shake and hug. Shelley was the perfect protagonist in this sub-genre of books that can only be described (in the very long winded way) as, ‘twenty somethings who are living in London and trying to work their lives out’.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and although it’s a bold claim to make, I do think AS YOUNG AS THIS does have a certain Dolly Alderton edge to it, so if you loved EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE or GHOSTS, I would really recommend picking this one up.
💬 “Do you regret any of them?”
💭 Roxy Dunn’s debut novel offers a fresh, painfully-truthful look at love, the plans we make, and what we do when they all go wrong. With many a laugh out loud moment mixed with some more poignant, heartfelt messages, this was a fantastic read.
On the brink of a big decision, Margot reflects on all the men she has ever loved: Elliot, Joe, Tommy, Nathanael, Wren, Oliver, Malik, Zach, Frank, Patrick, Noah. They all had something different to offer - whether it’s first love, sex spas, a secret affair, or a stand up comedy routine (or two) - and she is not afraid to look back at the good, the bad, and the downright embarrassing. Especially when she’s found ‘the one’ and things are looking up. But for how long?
Although it took me a little while to get into, I ended up loving the choice of second person narration. Sometimes I find it harder to engage with this narration style, often feeling a sense of detachment from the characters and their feelings, but this time it worked for me. I felt the very nature of the book - a reminiscent look back to all her past loves - really leant itself to this style too as it allowed Margot space to reflect on her past experiences knowing what she knows now, years into the future. It almost felt as if I was reading an old diary, with a few thoughts from the future sprinkled in.
Margot herself was at many times incredibly frustrating, and often self-indulgent, but also extremely relatable and entirely loveable; someone you want to both shake and hug. Shelley was the perfect protagonist in this sub-genre of books that can only be described (in the very long winded way) as, ‘twenty somethings who are living in London and trying to work their lives out’.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and although it’s a bold claim to make, I do think AS YOUNG AS THIS does have a certain Dolly Alderton edge to it, so if you loved EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE or GHOSTS, I would really recommend picking this one up.
July 28, 2024
"..you are acutely aware of your lack of ties to anyone at this point in your life which enables you to roam at leisure, at no cost or benefit to anyone else's happiness."
"There's probably lots about love you still don't understand but know by now that fear is pointless, that its only guarantee is loneliness."
I really loved this book. I loved Margot's relationship with her parents, her sister, and Lillie. Sometimes she seemed a bit detached as a narrator, but the Wren and Noah chapters felt very real and very raw. I enjoyed the twist at the end, and the ending was satisfying if mildly heartbreaking. The way Margot described loving her nephew resonated, too. Excellent!
"There's probably lots about love you still don't understand but know by now that fear is pointless, that its only guarantee is loneliness."
I really loved this book. I loved Margot's relationship with her parents, her sister, and Lillie. Sometimes she seemed a bit detached as a narrator, but the Wren and Noah chapters felt very real and very raw. I enjoyed the twist at the end, and the ending was satisfying if mildly heartbreaking. The way Margot described loving her nephew resonated, too. Excellent!
August 21, 2024
ein perfctes beispiel für ein main character lifestyle. viele (happy) ends, aber es gibt immer mehrere schlussstriche im lebenslauf. beim lesen habe ich mich dabei erwischt auf das eine perfekte ende zu hoffen und mich sehr oft in der protagonistin wiedergefunden. erschreckend beruhigendes buch, dass den druck davor nimmt immer, dass immer alles glatt gehen muss.
April 9, 2024
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous book
April 25, 2024
Loved it, so many passages I underlined and shared with friends, thanks for this lovely book
May 23, 2024
Just what my post break up brain needed.
August 22, 2024
I found this book pretty tedious and boring. The second person narrative didn’t work for me; I would forget when there was dialogue and then be pulled out of it when it went back to saying “you”. I guess this was done to suggest this is a universal experience, and that I’m there in the story living Margot’s life but even with the second person narrative, I didn’t feel connected to this story at all.
Margot felt like a very 2D character, she wasn’t fleshed out at all. I thought having the chapters be about the men she meets would offer some perspective on dating, on Margot figuring out who she is through the guy she dates, and potentially realising more about herself and loving herself without the need for a man but this was not it at all. I found myself frustrated and oftentimes bored with the chapters on each guy. They weren’t well developed, and I felt like rolling my eyes at some of the interactions. There didn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason to who she picks and why, but it was the ending that really soured it for me. I think my own perspective on dating and children meant I just couldn’t get my head around Margot’s choice or desperation.
Margot felt like a very 2D character, she wasn’t fleshed out at all. I thought having the chapters be about the men she meets would offer some perspective on dating, on Margot figuring out who she is through the guy she dates, and potentially realising more about herself and loving herself without the need for a man but this was not it at all. I found myself frustrated and oftentimes bored with the chapters on each guy. They weren’t well developed, and I felt like rolling my eyes at some of the interactions. There didn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason to who she picks and why, but it was the ending that really soured it for me. I think my own perspective on dating and children meant I just couldn’t get my head around Margot’s choice or desperation.
July 9, 2024
This is a great novel. I really enjoyed reading it and experiencing Margot's life through her loves. Each chapter is named after a different partner, and while some are longer and better than others, each chapter is great in its own way, be that for what Margot learns about others or learns about herself! I loved her interactions with her best friend, Lillie, and her sister, Romy. The dialogue is quick and witty but very grounded, too, very real.
Would I recommend this novel? Yes, in a heartbeat!
Would I recommend this novel? Yes, in a heartbeat!
January 29, 2024
The story of Margot, a young actor living in London, told through the men she dated from her teens to early thirties. The frogs she kissed and the impact they had on her. Set in Norwich and then predominantly in London.
I loved this story, I loved how it was told in the second person and I loved Margot. She was at times frustrating and self indulgent but this is what made her likeable and relatable.
I think this book is going to be a huge hit.
I loved this story, I loved how it was told in the second person and I loved Margot. She was at times frustrating and self indulgent but this is what made her likeable and relatable.
I think this book is going to be a huge hit.
May 1, 2024
I really loved this. The narrative style was different from anything I’ve read and I enjoyed it immensely. Made me smile and cry. Made me feel somewhat seen and also optimistic.
June 13, 2024
Loved this so so much
August 11, 2024
‘You have come here today by yourself in acceptance that you will no longer wait for someone else to permit you certain experiences, to recognize that moments in life, such as visiting a covered fish market alone at dawn, are as much a part of living as traditional milestones, even if there is no greeting card to mark the occasion.’
December 16, 2023
This novel looks at a young woman’s life, and in particular, the people that she has romantic relationships in from her first ever kiss towards her potential forever partner
The author has a distinctive modern voice, and the novel is particularly British. I think most readers will recognise themselves within the pages of this novel, either from the experiences of the narrator, or from other characters, who appear, and are well described.
This is a relationship novel, not very much happens, story wise, but you watch the young woman grows and learns from her successes and failures.
The novel is primarily of about heterosexual relationships, and as such the author puts her self within the demographic of young people who have not struggled as much as current teenagers with their gender identity.
The author has a clear easily read pro style, and the novel was an enjoyable read.
I would recommend this book for those who like a relationship novel. For example, Us or one Day by David Nicholls .
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published on the 4th of April 2024 by Penguin, General, UK.
This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarasbooks.wordpress.com after publication, it will also appear on Amazon UK.
The author has a distinctive modern voice, and the novel is particularly British. I think most readers will recognise themselves within the pages of this novel, either from the experiences of the narrator, or from other characters, who appear, and are well described.
This is a relationship novel, not very much happens, story wise, but you watch the young woman grows and learns from her successes and failures.
The novel is primarily of about heterosexual relationships, and as such the author puts her self within the demographic of young people who have not struggled as much as current teenagers with their gender identity.
The author has a clear easily read pro style, and the novel was an enjoyable read.
I would recommend this book for those who like a relationship novel. For example, Us or one Day by David Nicholls .
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published on the 4th of April 2024 by Penguin, General, UK.
This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarasbooks.wordpress.com after publication, it will also appear on Amazon UK.
September 2, 2024
really didn’t like this but I have to take some responsibility because I didn’t read the blurb properly. Books about women yearning for children are not my thing.
Random thoughts: Early on in the book, there is a bizzare scene where a dad tells his daughter he doesn’t want to get to know her because she’s too privileged and therefore isnt interesting to him, but don’t worry, she still understands the struggle of attending a co-ed comp school in Norwich! There is no character development, margot is 34 and never reflects on her mistakes (such as planning to elope with a married man and being genuinely shocked when he decides not to leave his family) with any humility or responsibility. A protagonist doesn’t have to be likeable but they should be, on some level, understandable. Second person narration is also just incredibly annoying especially when I the reader could not relate to her in any way because she’s a weird robot for the first half then a boring, mopey sop for the second.
Random thoughts: Early on in the book, there is a bizzare scene where a dad tells his daughter he doesn’t want to get to know her because she’s too privileged and therefore isnt interesting to him, but don’t worry, she still understands the struggle of attending a co-ed comp school in Norwich! There is no character development, margot is 34 and never reflects on her mistakes (such as planning to elope with a married man and being genuinely shocked when he decides not to leave his family) with any humility or responsibility. A protagonist doesn’t have to be likeable but they should be, on some level, understandable. Second person narration is also just incredibly annoying especially when I the reader could not relate to her in any way because she’s a weird robot for the first half then a boring, mopey sop for the second.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2024
“Do you regret any of them?”
This is a story about a girl coming into her womanhood and faced with a tough decision to make for herself. To understand why she does or she does not make the decision comes from her past experiences of her relationships.
First loves, affairs, the mistake, the one true love, the one she knew was the end for her, all of the FMC relationships has shaped her into who she becomes. This gives us a tender and heart squeezing debut novel.
When everyone in your life is evolving and growing and you still feel stuck at base 1, what do you do?
I loved this book so much. The ending gutted me.
This is a story about a girl coming into her womanhood and faced with a tough decision to make for herself. To understand why she does or she does not make the decision comes from her past experiences of her relationships.
First loves, affairs, the mistake, the one true love, the one she knew was the end for her, all of the FMC relationships has shaped her into who she becomes. This gives us a tender and heart squeezing debut novel.
When everyone in your life is evolving and growing and you still feel stuck at base 1, what do you do?
I loved this book so much. The ending gutted me.
October 9, 2023
Oh I wasn’t a fan of this book and I’m gutted. I enjoyed the story but I didn’t enjoy the way it was written. I think I’ve come to realise I can’t read a book written in second person.
Let me start with what I disliked. I didn’t like reading in second person, there’s a lot of repetition when writing like this and for me, it was quite off putting - I felt it hard to engage with the book and characters.
It gave me Evelyn Hugo vibes with the story being based around previous boyfriends, each boyfriend having a chapter and it ending with where the FMC, Margot has ended up with her life. It was quite childish with how she conducted herself throughout.
However, as much as my points maybe negative (maybe?) there are many aspects of the book I did enjoy and felt may be relatable to some.
Margot went through many relationships trying to find her way through life and relationships. It was all a learning curve for her. From first boyfriends to the first time she had sex. Then go what she wanted in life. The older she got (of more men she’d been with?) the more she started to have her own dreams and aspirations and fight for what she wanted. Which is brilliant and I am there for it! 👏🏼
The ending poignant and pulled at my heart strings. I really feel for Margot but thought towards the end of the book, she was a very strong FMC. She was doing life how she wanted and nothing was stopping her. I think it just shows you have to kiss a few frogs to find the true you and get what you want. Margot didn’t have it easy but she’s strong and she pushed through. The moral of the book was fantastic.
A huge thanks to Alexia at Viking Books for sending me a proof copy and to Roxy Dunn, I appreciate the novel you’ve written, the truth and depiction of the way people shape us. I just couldn’t bond with the writing style of second person. But I enjoyed the book and the message!
Let me start with what I disliked. I didn’t like reading in second person, there’s a lot of repetition when writing like this and for me, it was quite off putting - I felt it hard to engage with the book and characters.
It gave me Evelyn Hugo vibes with the story being based around previous boyfriends, each boyfriend having a chapter and it ending with where the FMC, Margot has ended up with her life. It was quite childish with how she conducted herself throughout.
However, as much as my points maybe negative (maybe?) there are many aspects of the book I did enjoy and felt may be relatable to some.
Margot went through many relationships trying to find her way through life and relationships. It was all a learning curve for her. From first boyfriends to the first time she had sex. Then go what she wanted in life. The older she got (of more men she’d been with?) the more she started to have her own dreams and aspirations and fight for what she wanted. Which is brilliant and I am there for it! 👏🏼
The ending poignant and pulled at my heart strings. I really feel for Margot but thought towards the end of the book, she was a very strong FMC. She was doing life how she wanted and nothing was stopping her. I think it just shows you have to kiss a few frogs to find the true you and get what you want. Margot didn’t have it easy but she’s strong and she pushed through. The moral of the book was fantastic.
A huge thanks to Alexia at Viking Books for sending me a proof copy and to Roxy Dunn, I appreciate the novel you’ve written, the truth and depiction of the way people shape us. I just couldn’t bond with the writing style of second person. But I enjoyed the book and the message!
February 17, 2024
This book looks at past lovers and how they have shaped the main character Margot. There is a running them of mediocracy and never living up to your full potential. She is so sold on the idea of what a relationship and love is suppose to be that she forces herself to be in mediocre relationships, toxic relationships, that have no love nor respect for her. Which could be a reflection of the relationship she has with her father. The way she never reaches her full potential at work is a reflection of the amount of hours she puts in, you can see that as she gets deeply enchanted by her relationships she loses her work ethic and still wants people to give her grace and treat her as someone great. Which is one of her downfalls as a person.
This book is a beautiful representation of reality, there are a lot of things that we hope to achieve in life, including marriage and when we do not, we put ourselves in compromising positions just so we could be assimilated in society and not seen as outcasts. This also affects the relationships we have with our siblings and friends. The way Margot compares herself to her friends in terms of relationships and career, her feelings towards them are not of full admiration, there is a bit of jealousy and resentment hiding in the crevices of her friendships. The same can be said about the relationship she has with her sister, especially because love comes so easily for her sister.
This book gives you an opportunity to witness true, raw human emotions at their highest point, and as much as you would love to hate Margot, there is a piece of you that can resonate with her intense emotions (including her self pity).
This book is a beautiful representation of reality, there are a lot of things that we hope to achieve in life, including marriage and when we do not, we put ourselves in compromising positions just so we could be assimilated in society and not seen as outcasts. This also affects the relationships we have with our siblings and friends. The way Margot compares herself to her friends in terms of relationships and career, her feelings towards them are not of full admiration, there is a bit of jealousy and resentment hiding in the crevices of her friendships. The same can be said about the relationship she has with her sister, especially because love comes so easily for her sister.
This book gives you an opportunity to witness true, raw human emotions at their highest point, and as much as you would love to hate Margot, there is a piece of you that can resonate with her intense emotions (including her self pity).
August 29, 2024
I still can’t quite decide how I am feeling about this book. There are definitely aspects that I enjoyed and some that I didn’t. I’m still trying to work out whether I like the ending or not.
Surprisingly, I actually really got into the second person narrator. It was the first book I’ve read in this narration style, and having find it quite tiresome for the first few pages after a short while it felt natural. I actually found it to be a really good device for holding up a mirror to your own experiences, in comparison with those in the book, making me reflect on my previous relationships.
In theory, the structure of chronologically working through each boy that Margot had been involved with was exciting but in reality I found large sections of it to be quite boring and the way that each character is passed through means that often, even the longer and more profound relationships in the book feel underdeveloped and one-dimensional. For example, it feels like with Noah’s character, who is the final partner in the book and meant to be the most important meaningful romantic relationship of the book, we never really get to know him in a way that allows us to feel Margot’s pain and truly empathise with her when they break up (not a spoiler - we know this from chapter 1). I would’ve also liked some more sense and narrative arc to the men that Margot chooses to date, so that we get a bit more psychoanalytic content about the way she behaves in relationships - this is alluded to when she speaks about her relationship with her father but never really fully takes shape I feel.
However, what I did enjoy about the book is realising - almost as I finished the last page - that it’s not really about men and relationships at all, despite being a book about men and relationships. What we reflect on at the end of the book is the characters in the story is the characters who have been there all along - her sister Romily, her best friend Lillie. So despite barely any sentence passing the Bechdel Test in this novel what I do think is clever is the emphasis on female friendships and the importance of relationships with the other women in our lives, and the way the author invites us to in turn reflect on this in our own lives.
Side note - I found Margot’s ability to continue living a comfortable life in London despite having essential no job at times in the book quite distracting from the story.
Surprisingly, I actually really got into the second person narrator. It was the first book I’ve read in this narration style, and having find it quite tiresome for the first few pages after a short while it felt natural. I actually found it to be a really good device for holding up a mirror to your own experiences, in comparison with those in the book, making me reflect on my previous relationships.
In theory, the structure of chronologically working through each boy that Margot had been involved with was exciting but in reality I found large sections of it to be quite boring and the way that each character is passed through means that often, even the longer and more profound relationships in the book feel underdeveloped and one-dimensional. For example, it feels like with Noah’s character, who is the final partner in the book and meant to be the most important meaningful romantic relationship of the book, we never really get to know him in a way that allows us to feel Margot’s pain and truly empathise with her when they break up (not a spoiler - we know this from chapter 1). I would’ve also liked some more sense and narrative arc to the men that Margot chooses to date, so that we get a bit more psychoanalytic content about the way she behaves in relationships - this is alluded to when she speaks about her relationship with her father but never really fully takes shape I feel.
However, what I did enjoy about the book is realising - almost as I finished the last page - that it’s not really about men and relationships at all, despite being a book about men and relationships. What we reflect on at the end of the book is the characters in the story is the characters who have been there all along - her sister Romily, her best friend Lillie. So despite barely any sentence passing the Bechdel Test in this novel what I do think is clever is the emphasis on female friendships and the importance of relationships with the other women in our lives, and the way the author invites us to in turn reflect on this in our own lives.
Side note - I found Margot’s ability to continue living a comfortable life in London despite having essential no job at times in the book quite distracting from the story.
June 15, 2024
I found 'As Young as This' to be a compelling read, a novel exploring all of the complexities of womanhood and identity, as well as tackling the various challenges of adulthood, and learning to balance all of these things. It explores the notion of motivation and drive, and we gradually see how Margot changes as she matures and how her goals and aspirations change as a result.
I think many readers will identify with Margot, and at various occasions in the book, as well as the various partners! I think the novel perfectly captures that sense of adventure, wonder, trepidation, and all of the other feelings that come with new relationships and new milestones within them.
It was quite obvious from the early pages what big step Margot was taking so it felt like the novel, and the chapters chronicling her various partners, was marching steadily toward that conclusion. One thing I probably would have left out - without giving away too much - is the kind of 'dream sequence' that we get near the end of the book. I don't think it was needed, I could understand what the writer was trying to say but it didn't really work for me particularly as we had scenes earlier in the book where Margot considered how things might have turned out but without presenting them as if they were currently happening.
One other thing - I have seen some people discuss the decision to write in the second-person. It took a while to get the flow of it (I'm not sure I've ever read a second-person novel before!) but Dunn absolutely nails it. I felt like writing in the second-person drew me in completely and, because of the constant references to 'you', I found myself thinking about Margot's actions and thoughts in a much more meaningful way - would I do or say XYZ in the same situation? It evokes a level of introspection and self-reflection that make this a very emersive read - in a sense it invites you to be as much of a main character as Margot is.
My thanks to Penguin, via NetGalley, for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I think many readers will identify with Margot, and at various occasions in the book, as well as the various partners! I think the novel perfectly captures that sense of adventure, wonder, trepidation, and all of the other feelings that come with new relationships and new milestones within them.
It was quite obvious from the early pages what big step Margot was taking so it felt like the novel, and the chapters chronicling her various partners, was marching steadily toward that conclusion. One thing I probably would have left out - without giving away too much - is the kind of 'dream sequence' that we get near the end of the book. I don't think it was needed, I could understand what the writer was trying to say but it didn't really work for me particularly as we had scenes earlier in the book where Margot considered how things might have turned out but without presenting them as if they were currently happening.
One other thing - I have seen some people discuss the decision to write in the second-person. It took a while to get the flow of it (I'm not sure I've ever read a second-person novel before!) but Dunn absolutely nails it. I felt like writing in the second-person drew me in completely and, because of the constant references to 'you', I found myself thinking about Margot's actions and thoughts in a much more meaningful way - would I do or say XYZ in the same situation? It evokes a level of introspection and self-reflection that make this a very emersive read - in a sense it invites you to be as much of a main character as Margot is.
My thanks to Penguin, via NetGalley, for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2024
Books about relationships are my favourite genre (admittedly not *actually* an acknowledged genre), so I thought I might love this novel - AND I DID. Each chapter is named after a man that protagonist Margot has been in a relationship with, but this is about so much more than romantic/sexual love - equally, the protagonist is shaped by her family and friends. I enjoyed the frankness of the sister relationship, which reminded me a bit of Martha and Ingrid's dynamic in Sorrow and Bliss. (High praise, as that's one of my favourite books.)
I don't think I've ever read a novel written in the second person before, but it works really well here - giving the narrator a degree of distance that feels fitting for such a self-aware character. Some of her thoughts felt like they'd been plucked out of my very own head. The author's descriptions are taut and really original, too. I haven't been able to look at a packet of almonds without recalling her observation that they look like hard, wooden tears!
The dialogue is also very authentic - many conversations felt like ones I could imagine being part of - and the author is so good at conjuring the absolute awfulness of heartbreak. That said, there's a lot of humour in here, too - it's casually funny, but doesn't try too hard for laughs.
I don't think I've ever read a novel written in the second person before, but it works really well here - giving the narrator a degree of distance that feels fitting for such a self-aware character. Some of her thoughts felt like they'd been plucked out of my very own head. The author's descriptions are taut and really original, too. I haven't been able to look at a packet of almonds without recalling her observation that they look like hard, wooden tears!
The dialogue is also very authentic - many conversations felt like ones I could imagine being part of - and the author is so good at conjuring the absolute awfulness of heartbreak. That said, there's a lot of humour in here, too - it's casually funny, but doesn't try too hard for laughs.
November 16, 2023
This was a poignant, awful, at times heartbreaking and yet beautiful. It felt relateable on a very personal level and I'm sure every woman will find something they can connect with when reading it. The thoughts and decisions that drive us to find a partner and how these can change with time but also the equation we have with parents, siblings and friends are assessed with nuance and a candid simplicity in the book; something so obvious but when confirmed it brings some strange clarity. Although the behaviour of main character, Margot, is often questionable, written in second character narrative makes this feel very personable, and I almost cannot criticise her - for being sincere in her honesty (which really choked me up at times) in her own account of how she got to the end point. A riveting debut! I think its a must read and one to watch out for in April 2024, I'll certainly look forward to seeing more from Roxy Dunn. Thank you @netgalley @PenguinUKBooks @VikingBooksUK for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review. All views are my own.
May 21, 2024
“Do you regret any of them?”
Roxy Dunn created such a gorgeous novel with As Young As This. I love a solid womanhood coming of age story. This one especially in that it extends beyond those formative, soul searching years of our twenties that many novels hone in on. We journey with Margo from her teen years through her thirties. Each chapter is reserved for a different man she had had a relationship with. I found this format to be unique and effective. It kind of made me look at my own relationships in my past in a different light - in the form of chapters. Comparing and contrasting one chapter from the next.. how you got there.. how you moved on. If you ended up where you imagined you would.
Ultimately, I love this book. The writing is lovely. It is relatable, tender, and witty. There’s also some touching family dynamics. I particularly loved the growth in Margo’s relationship with her father through the years. The love she shares with her sister is also an endearing part of her story. Margo’s friendships grow and change. There’s a lot of heart in these pages.
May 1, 2024
This is a brilliant debut and the second person pov works really well.
The only niggles I had were feeling slightly drowned in descriptive imagery/simile within certain pages. Some of these were beautifully poetic though.
The character was also a little bland (and very middle class!), however, I wonder if this was to deliberatey draw more attention towards the emotional experiences rather than the protagonist. The second person pov was a clever choice if this was the intention. Even so, I'd have liked to have felt I "knew" her better by the end of the book.
I'd definitely read more work by this writer in the same genre, I'd be excited to see how her work progresses in years to come.
The only niggles I had were feeling slightly drowned in descriptive imagery/simile within certain pages. Some of these were beautifully poetic though.
The character was also a little bland (and very middle class!), however, I wonder if this was to deliberatey draw more attention towards the emotional experiences rather than the protagonist. The second person pov was a clever choice if this was the intention. Even so, I'd have liked to have felt I "knew" her better by the end of the book.
I'd definitely read more work by this writer in the same genre, I'd be excited to see how her work progresses in years to come.
August 19, 2024
I didn’t initially feel thrilled by the book but the ending really bumped the book from 3 to 4 stars. Such an interesting concept for a book, looking at how all the protagonist’s past relationships have shaped her and the progression of her life. The commentary on womanhood and the biological clock women face was also strong and an entirely necessary read. The ending - arguably happy but perhaps not what one thought would be classed as a ‘happy’ ending - felt really empowering and was a true testament to the extent of sacrifice that can and should be permitted in a relationship. Will be reading this again.
June 25, 2024
As Young as This follow our FMC Margot as she recounts all of her past relationships with different men. Think Dolly Alderton x Sally Rooney x Imogen Crimp in terms of the story telling.
I thought I'd enjoy this a lot more than I did I'm sorry to say. Usually I am engrossed in stories of women doing ordinary (slightly pretentious) things and how they sort of lose sight of everything when it comes to toxic relationships. Something about this just didn't work for me and whilst it is written in a way to keep you at a distance from everything, the second person narrative was not my favourite.
Some gorgeous quotes and writing but it didn't keep me absorbed.
I thought I'd enjoy this a lot more than I did I'm sorry to say. Usually I am engrossed in stories of women doing ordinary (slightly pretentious) things and how they sort of lose sight of everything when it comes to toxic relationships. Something about this just didn't work for me and whilst it is written in a way to keep you at a distance from everything, the second person narrative was not my favourite.
Some gorgeous quotes and writing but it didn't keep me absorbed.
July 9, 2024
This was an amazing debut, written in a unique style. Told through each relationship Margot has, we watch her learn and grow. From naive and sexually inexperienced young woman, to wise and independent thirty-something, Margot is a character totally relatable and likeable.
Though each chapter is named for the men she has loved or dated or avoided, they are not the main story. Margot is. The heartbreaking decision she ultimately makes shows she has chosen herself, and that sometimes you simply can't have it all.
I also loved Margot's Dad who was eccentric and blunt but also deeply loving
Though each chapter is named for the men she has loved or dated or avoided, they are not the main story. Margot is. The heartbreaking decision she ultimately makes shows she has chosen herself, and that sometimes you simply can't have it all.
I also loved Margot's Dad who was eccentric and blunt but also deeply loving
August 2, 2024
damn .. after coming out of my first ever relationship which I thought would end in marriage.. this was weirdly consoling.. I relate to a lot of stuff she thinks and wants and the idea of ending up like her is scary but also calming , I am also more excited to have kids than actually marry but yet I do want a husband and a father to my children , I relate to her in a lot ways and also post breakup it made me think about a lot of things , this is definitely a keeper and I'll most definitely will read it again because it was just so familiar.
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