A review by mcgbreads
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

emotional lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Friendzoning but make it 19th-century St. Petersburg. 

She's 17, very sheltered, and in love with a guy who left but promised to return; he's 27, and a lonely daydreamer who just wants to connect. A friendship does blossom between them, but while he falls in love, her heart already belongs to someone else. 

I love that he doesn't turn into an asshole when he's rejected. He's actually really sweet and I like to imagine he eventually found someone for him.

The feelings both of these characters express are so relatable. That's the thing I love about classics; they're often so grounded in the human experience, they're timeless.