Luster

I didn't really want to read this, I went in with a negative attitude, so take this review how ever you want.
Now that I have finished it, my thoughts can be summed up with: meh.
I found the entire cast of characters to be morally devoid creatures. Eric, for example, is just an asshole. While Edie might judge men by how kind they are to waitstaff, I set a higher bar and he treated her poorly the entire story.
I thought for a hot minute that this would be an examination of two different generations. But I didn't feel Edie really summed up Millennials. All of the Millennials I know are killing themselves working 3 jobs (with no health insurance) to stay above water and not drown in student loan debt. Really, wouldn't she be Gen Z anyway? And Eric and Rebecca did not symbolize Gen X as I know it either. These characters are just voids, there is nothing there morally, they have no purpose.
So that theory didn't work. Edie was self-destructive but not self-destructive enough to make any kind of difference. She is like one of those little fish that follow whales gobbling up scraps but never really steers her own life.
The whole problem (and why I DNF'd this book back in July when I first tried to read it) is how unbelievable it is. I didn't buy it-not the situation, not the plot, not the motives, none of it. I had a few moments where I actually thought we were on to something:
1. Akila describing her past placements and how she'd rather just stay with Eric and Rebecca despite all the bullshit.
2. The description of Comic Con (which, by the way was something the characters were so excited to attend but Eric manages to ruin the first hour they are there- I told you, he is an asshole).
3. The mosh pit.
4. Rebecca's job- man, I wish that had been explored more.

Ultimately even the most ardent willing suspension of disbelief could not save this novel for me. How did Rebecca KNOW what painting supplies to buy for that one scene? Why was she leaving her money? Why was Rebecca and Akila's body dysmorphia never explored? Who in the hell uses Plan B as contraception OVER other types of contraception? It's Plan B for a reason and it's frigging expensive!

One last thing, at one point Edie considers living in her storage unit, which reminded me of Scorch by A.D. Nauman (somehow does not have a Goodreads listing?). That one really nailed debt and living in a storage container. I may have to find and reread that.