greta & valdin is one of the most understated novels i've read in a while, not because the characters aren't rambunctious (they surprisingly are), but because the revelations feel like ones people often have by themselves. here, the revelations are shared amongst family (biological and found) through conversations that are often embarrassing and real. it takes patience to want to know people and reilly succeeds at conveying this yearning (especially when it comes knowing one's parents in adulthood). i will say there are some pacing issues with the large cast of characters, but this one feels like it would make a good limited series, or even a play, with well i think the conversations could become impactful monologues on film.

I was really looking forward to this one but it absolutely exceeded my expectations. I'm obsessed.

This book follows an absolutely hilarious family as they try to get their lives together, both professional and personal, and we see more and more of their pasts revealed as the book goes on. The thing that stood out to me about this book was the complete joy of being queer, Maori, and Russian (and Jewish!). There is so much queerness and it is so normal in this family, literally everyone is queer and it's such a beautiful thing to see. I felt so warm inside reading the family dynamics, because while they are messy and imperfect, there is love there.

This is such a sharply written book as well. The countless jabs at racism, classism, ableism, and more that are cleverly woven into an otherwise mundane paragraph are truly brilliant. I learned a lot about modern New Zealand society which I very much appreciated ("How long have you been in New Zealand? Have you heard about racism?").

I will be shoving this book into the hands of everyone I know, and following any and everything Rebecca K Reilly writes from now on.

I leave you with one quote of the endless number I highlighted while reading: "I don't really feel like anything these days, just a beautiful husk filled with opinions about globalism and a strong desire to go out for dinner."

Read this book.

The first half of this was a solid 5 stars but at around the 50% mark it just devolved into something too convoluted for me to enjoy. It feels like a firework going off in every which direction, with an onslaught of underdeveloped minor characters and a web of social relationships that are impossible to keep track of. I recognize every family is different, the family dynamics here are very messy and while I enjoy representation, it kind of took me out of things once so many characters came out.

Despite both Greta and Valdin being in their mid to late 20s, they act incredibly juvenile so I found it hard to relate to anything they experience. The dichotomy between what's happening in their life and how they react to it is so jarring, and really detracts from the overall messaging. Even their parents, who are largely present for wisdom and comedic relief, are so split in their portrayal they each feel like they're comprised of two separate characters each. Everyone just feels like a zany caricature without any one to contrast against, so I felt mixed opinions. I did really like the humour and some of the more campy scenes though.

While there is some darkly comedic and razor sharp quips on millennial life (ranging from online dating, soaring rents, and social justice), it was hard for me to enjoy the ending when the cast of characters are so repetitive and the plot is shoved into the last 30%. Several scenes are overtly dramatized and cryptic, and there ends up being so many loose ends from the sheer amount of subplots that get introduced. So many important discussions simply don't occur!

I could see why this resonates with some readers, and I especially enjoyed learning more about New Zealand and Māori culture, ultimately the back half of this was noticeably weaker. I think with the volume of content and themes the author intended to explore, it needed to either be presented as a series or needed at least 100+ pages to flesh these things out in a meaningful way.

I try not to be overtly critical in my reviews, but this one especially hurt given the beginning is SO strong and there really was a lot of potential here. I wouldn't necessarily avoid recommending this to others, but I would definitely caution that there is some pacing issues that are hard to ignore.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I laughed out loud while reading this story about two Russian Māori queer siblings, student Greta, who constantly deals with unrequited love, and physicist turned into ‘tv-show star’ Valdin (Val/V) whose boyfriend broke up with him when Val’s OCD took over their relationship.
 
Greta and Valdin is a huge hit in New Zealand, and I fully understand why. The story has a Bridget Jones-like appeal. It’s incredibly witty, relatable painful, and still so lovable. If I only had three words to describe this book, I’d use warm, messy, and sparkly. But it’s also thought-provoking and much deeper than you’d assume reading the first pages. It deals with themes like fleeing your country, racism, sickness in the past, and mental health issues.
 
What’s the most special about this book is that even though this story is about two grown-up siblings, in the end, it’s about multiple generations while figuring out life. Almost all the characters in this novel are, in one way or another, related to each other, and the family dynamics are fantastic. I loved Greta’s talk to her dad about her date, who didn’t feel a ‘Spark’, and her dad telling her about his own dating life, ending the conversation by saying they still had a bag of chips to eat. I adored V’s conversation with his uncle about living in Moldova and Valdin realizing his dad’s family didn’t just buy tickets to fly to New Zealand but fled their home and family for specific reasons that applied to Valdin too. I nodded my head in approval at all those pop references and that reference to the queen of the Netherlands!! I thought only Dutch people would recognize her! And that chaotic ending! It made my eyes crinkle from joy (and don’t tell anyone they might have been a little wet too …).

This is a fun, quirky book that delighted me as its characters are so eccentric (and lovable) that you can't stop rooting for them! Greta and Valdin are siblings but very different; Valdin has been dumped by his boyfriend but later he is forced to reconcile his feelings when his job sends him to Argentina where Xabi lives. Valdin's sister, Greta is hard-working but flighty and continues to "crush" on women who aren't quite worthy or don't understand her neediness and ability to jump into relationships so quickly. It's a family drama, a comedy, and a lot of misadventures all at once!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!