gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Narrated by Bailey Carr, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz
Unabridged
One of my late netgalley arcs, I decided to listen to via my library app.
This was riveting and harrowing read following a dual sexual assault case, one in the present day and one set in the mystery of a cover up that happened some years before.
We follow a podcast presenter investigating both cases and it was interesting to see the perspective of varying characters of what, to me, is an obviously awful crime.
The acts done to the body was so graphic and really hard to read, so please bear that in mind.
Overall, I'm glad to have finally read this, but it was a heavy, difficult read.
Graphic: Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Car accident, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
leebeeloves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Bullying, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Stalking, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Vomit and Gun violence
archuxinyues's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, and Bullying
Minor: Murder, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Misogyny
smdamm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Child abuse, Car accident, Rape, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Murder, Cancer, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, and Chronic illness
lolabelle22's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Rape
rebeccahensley's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, and Violence
amandalynnnb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
- I really liked the audiobook. We got a few sound effects and such for the chapters where Rachel was narrating her podcast. There was also more than one narrator. I think the audio was just all around well done and did a great job keeping me engaged in the story.
- This book covers some series topics like rape and sexual assault. I think it did those things really thoughtfully and kindly. But it also did them realistically, which was heart breaking at times.
- I really loved how the past of Hannah telling her sister’s story and the story of the present were woven together. I think this worked really well as a storytelling device. It’s not always a good way to tell a story, but it really worked for this book.
- I liked Rachel. She loved creating her podcast, but she didn’t love the fame that came with her success. I thought her desire for anonymity was really interesting compared with how well her podcast did. I liked her as a character as well. She wasn’t really the focus of the story, but it’s told through her perspective so we got to know her and a bit about her past.
- The pace of this story was excellent. I think because it’s about tough topics, I was immediately sucked in. But it was the way the story was told with the characters and the two different timelines that really made it feel fast paced. I listened to the audiobook in one sitting.
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness
porchrailreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
.
A little later than expected, but completed nonetheless.
.
The Night Swim by #MeganGoldin is almost two stories in one. On the one hand, we have Rachel, an investigative reporter and host of a true crime podcast, covering a sexual abuse case in the coastal North Carolinian town of Neapolis. On the other, we have Hannah, still mourning the death of her older sister nearly a quarter of a century later, seeking to find justice. Interspersed is Rachel’s podcast coverage of the trial.
.
In verbose and occasionally grandiose prose we learn the events of two seemingly unrelated but interconnected crimes. While the writing was a bit much, the message was incredibly profound and important. Conversations of sexual assault are difficult to have and there are ridiculous shades of gray. Victims bear the burden of proof and endure tremendous ridicule and trauma when coming forward. Society as a whole blames the victim for the crime while seldom confronting the perpetrator. It’s always “she should have…” instead of “he shouldn’t have…”
.
I have three gripes with this book. The first I’ve already alluded to. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. It was too much in parts while simultaneously not being enough of what matters.
.
Second, the cat and mouse game between Hannah and Rachel was unnecessary and detracted from Hannah’s story. Also, we never fully get resolution over the fact that Hannah straight up stalked Rachel for weeks.
.
Lastly, Goldin painstakingly tries to assert that Rachel will be unbiased in her reporting and coverage of the trial but the reality is she’s anything but. The excerpts of the podcast included in the book are entirely biased and paint the defendant as guilty prior to the reading of the verdict. Rachel is no Sarah Koening and ‘Guilty or Not Guilty’ is no ‘Serial.’
.
All in all, it’s a decent read though it has several triggers: rape, sexual assault, and the legal distinction between the two; abuse; neglect; death and dying; terminal illness; underaged drinking; trauma.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Child abuse
colleeen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction
alylentz's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Terminal illness
Minor: Pedophilia