erica_reads_things's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are many reviews that I have seen that reduce this to a " groomer pedophile book", and I have to disagree. We clearly see Kellan's perspective because it is written. We clearly see Wavy's perspective because it is written. This book highlights how complicated human emotions can be and are, especially amongst families and communities that have been deeply traumatized. Traumatized people sometimes make choices that others don't understand; that maybe aren't healthy or "right", but what they feel they and those in their lives need.
This book made me feel a lot of things: uncomfortable, sad, hopeful, weepy. For that, I'd call this a win. It's understandibly not for everyone though, so check triggers.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Body shaming, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Murder, Violence, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Rape
Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
annaberry717's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Drug abuse
thewanderingbooknerd's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
tcrivera12's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
freadman666's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Mental illness, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual violence, Addiction, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse
jreads2me's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Body shaming, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Death of parent, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
happilywilted's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The only characters I didn't dislike were Donal, Leslie, and Darrin, the guy that Renee dates at the end.
I spent the whole book wondering if the author was for or against grooming and sexual abuse, as she writes the perspective of both supporters and people against the two main characters being together, but at the end of the book on the authors note she talks about how making them not platonic was the only option and tries to justify it in some way.
Every page made me deeply uncomfortable in a way that I haven't felt since I read Lolita in 2019, which isn't surprising, because the author recommends Lolita as saying it is similar. Horrid.
I hated Kellen so much, as he was a groomer and child molester. I could’ve done without reading the descriptions of his smell, his sweat, and the graphic sexual descriptions of him, an adult, touching Wavy. I had bought this book back in October after it had somehow gotten in to my TBR pile on Goodreads, and I bought it having read no spoilers, just seeing that it was a "beautiful and provocative love story". Well, it was provocative, but it wasn't anywhere close to beautiful or a love story. It was a story about a groomer who sexually assaults a child and makes her think that the relationship they had was a family and safe. But really, he was a creeper.
I despised reading Amy saying that Wavy wanted him to touch her, as if that excuses what he did to her at thirteen. Also, the judge taking back the protective order because Wavy said she was a "real person". As if being real excuses a pedophile and allows him to contact his victim.
I mean, they met when she was eight. When they first met, he was described as a giant and I was confused because I assumed this was the guy in the love story, and wondered how a child could be giant, when much to my chagrin I found out he was around twenty years old. I wish the age gap could've been at least just four years if she wanted him to be arrested for what he did to further the plot.
I almost DNF'd, but since I owned the book, I wanted to give it a chance, but every page of people ignoring the grooming and allowing it to continue pissed me off and made me almost throw the book across the room. Also, mama didn't raise no quitter.
Thankfully, now I'm done, and can attempt to scrub my brain clean of this frustrating and uncomfortable read.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
morganmoore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Abandonment, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Death of parent, Death, and Child abuse
hailsatan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault