Happy Hour - Marlowe Granados ⭐️⭐️/5

When I picked this book up, I’ll admit, it’s because BookTok got to me. So many content creators were spouting reviews of praise, saying it was like the nostalgia for an adventure you wish you had. It was supposed to be like all of your comfort moments packaged up neatly, so you could turn to it as a source of inspiration and happiness.

Oh my goodness was that ever not the case for me. 

Marlowe Granados’ Happy Hour was not very happy! Two freshly 20-something women take on a new life in New York together. It’s supposed to be a summer of adventure, finding themselves, and growing their friendship. Except it’s not at all like that. 

These girls are so unlikeable to me. I understand it can be appealing when books are “no plot, just vibes” but when the only vibes are curated by a lazy brat, it’s… not the best vibe. I’ll say that.

The happy, adventurous find-oneself moments were hard to come by. These girls STRUGGLED to make their way in NY. They shared a mattress in a dingy bedroom and stole from each other in their barely-there friendship. While it may have been more realistic to the New York experience, it stressed me out and reminded me of every uncomfortable living situation I had ever put myself through. 

Granados does have some beautiful lines in here, I’ll give her that. But when everything else was kind of a slog masquerading as an uplifting plot, it was kind of hard to appreciate those moments. 

If you’re more of a plot person, this isn’t the book for you. If you’re into likeable characters, this isn’t for you. If you’re into a depressing cloud looming ominously over your dreams, you might like this.

All hype with no delivery. I wanted to love this and I’m sad. ⭐️⭐️/5 stars.