This was a novel that was easy to read, well-written, and has left me thinking less about the character Phoebe and more about my own late adolescent self. The story, told by Phoebe, is structured around the men that romantically (or should I say sexually?) color her life. It is, if not unnervingly similar to the questions and experiences I imagine most young adult women go through to some degree, illuminating to read as an older 20-something who is married with a daughter of her own.The novel moved at a steady pace, and while at times I felt very connected to Phoebe, I never felt like I was her; the author writes in first person, but does so in a way that keeps me feeling like a silent spectator to Phoebe's life, privy to most all of her thoughts and emotions, but still separate. However without giving anything away, I felt as though there was something missing, some swell of catharsis or plot that seemed like it was going to happen, but never did. There are times when, frustratingly, we are suddenly shut out of Phoebe's mind and life - the fate of some of her lovers left purposefully unknown - and there are a few transitions in the later half of the novel that feel unsubstantial and leave you questioning exactly what has happened and if you need to read it again. It was almost as if suddenly Phoebe remembered she was telling the story (or that someone was listening) and chose to censor the things even she wasn't ready to think about.Yet the captivating journey Rosenfeld takes you on is both familiar and foreign. I am not Phoebe, yet I am, or at least I was. The questions of love, self-worth, and the importance of personal connections are ones we all deal with, and I saw my younger self in some of Phoebe's fears, uncertainties, and - at times - in her painful, self-loathing(there were also a few of my own exes mirrored in Phoebe's as well). I highly recommend reading it especially as, perhaps, an adult out of her early 20s, because I don't think I would have appreciated Phoebe's struggle as much then as I did now. While the ending leaves a bit to be desired and feels somewhat rushed (I want this review to remain spoiler free so I will leave it at that), the journey is worth taking.You can read a more personal, spoiler filled review on my blog: http://discoverdragons.weebly.com/ -Elle
Up until page 260 (out of 284) I was so incredibly tempted to throw this book in the recycling. As other reviewers have mentioned, the main character is so unsympathetic and such a gross caricature of a human being that she's literally painful to read about, and impossible to care about. I have never met a person or a fictional character with so few redeeming qualities (or really, no redeeming qualities.) Reading this book felt like being forced to hang out with a truly, truly awful person. And then I found myself relating to one of her boyfriend scenarios, and I realized that it's very possible others could relate to aspects of her personality/relationships that I found completely unbelievable. Rosenfeld really covers all the mistakes and negative qualities one person could have, so chances are you'll find *something* to relate to in this book.Nonetheless, aside from some beautifully keen observations, this book was downright painful and I can't say I took anything good away from reading it.
What do You think about What She Saw... (2001)?
Feminists be wary, everyone else may find something of value here. While not a particularly well-written book it did resonate with me as a just-turned-20-year-old as a blueprint of what not to do for the rest of my life. The hate of this novel from fellow readers may be because of true dislike of the writing and plot, but perhaps it's more because the life of Phoebe Fine resonates all too well with the reader. It did for me and even if it hadn't, this novel is still an intriguing look into the mind of a nobody who has done nothing with her life, who is only able to justify her existence through sex.
—Niko Vercelletto
I'm not sure which book or blog recommended this book (I think it might have been Nancy Pearl's Book Lust) but it was okay. Most reviews either loved or hated this book but I'm more ambivalent. Phoebe Fine is a girl growing up in New Jersey at the beginning of this book. She is not the best looking girl, at least in her own estimation, but she yearns for a boyfriend. The rest of the book is an exploration of the rest of Lucy's life, told through the men she hooks up with. This includes high school, college and a few years after. Told in the first person, this book gets a little tedious with each and every chapter being about some disappointing boyfriend. The character doesn't grow, doesn't change throughout over a decade of her life. Really? I guess people in real life can stagnate, but I don't really appreciate that in a book.Not the most fun story, but there are definite moments of brightness with an occasional turn of phrase... "She never aspired to go anywhere... except maybe back to bed."
—Jessi
Each chapter of this book is about a different romantic interest in Phoebe's love life. She's the progeny of a music-geek family and her older sister is leaving big footprints for Phoebe to follow in. This is a coming of age story and one that I could certainly identify with, at least from the viewpoint toward the string of unsuited suitors. As the reader and one who recalls with vivid memories the various loves of her life in chapters, I could easily ride the emotional rollercoaster the protagonist was on through first blush, loss of innocence, and other rites of passage. I enjoyed the growth and variety found in each chapter and will surely recommend this one to all my lady friends.
—Ange
