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ohshebookish's review
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
erinsca's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I wanted so badly to like this book but I really hated it. Some of the prose was really beautiful and the way the author described the struggle of middle aged womanhood and parenting was really lovely, but the plot, pacing, timeline, and events were unbearable.
This poor woman loses a burgeoning career because of an unplanned pregnancy and everything goes downhill from there. Her second child dies in an accident, her husband cheats while she is drowning in grief, her first daughter has an affair with a teacher, and in the end her husband and daughter leave her. The book is set in a single day with flashbacks interspersed and even that day is traumatic with a sexual assault on a bus and so much pain. In the end she’s arrested and there’s some familial resolution but I was so frustrated and demoralized by the end that the paltry amount of redemption was not enough to counterbalance the misery that was this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual assault
llothspeich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I like that the frenetic pace of the book mirrors the main characters unraveling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Pedophilia, and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
booked_with_meg's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Pedophilia