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sytaylor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
boompie'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcoholism
Minor: Police brutality and Car accident
sadiebroussard'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? Yes
3.5
This novel just isn’t for me. I’m not a mother and will never be in this lifetime. The story, at its core, is about motherhood. I understand the many themes of motherhood in the book and can sympathize with Grace. However, I can’t relate to her or empathize with her pain.
This novel is dark. Grace is in a lot of pain for most of the novel. I feel like I was baited and then switched. This is not a funny, light-hearted read like it is advertised to be. The story deals with some very heavy and serious topics. I didn’t laugh reading this book, I cried. It was heart-wrenching and I found it to be very depressing.
That being said, the novel is very well written. The plot device of flipping back and forth from the past and present worked really well. It felt like a mystery for 75% of the story. It was fun, I tried to figure out why people acted in certain ways and did certain things. The descriptive language throughout the book was beautiful at times and always made me feel like I was right there with Grace the entire time. It was like watching a movie.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Sexual assault, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Mental illness, and Police brutality
bootrat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Lotte's plotline was unfortunately very recognisable to me (and I predicted what was coming), which made it quite hard to read. I also detested the way it was handled by every adult in the book. As somebody who works with kids and in safeguarding I was screaming.
I think my biggest gripe with this book though is that from the blurb and the start of the book it seems fairly lighthearted, just a book struggling with getting older and with her relationship with her daughter, but then as a reader you're suddenly thrown into these quite dark situations without expecting it. It didn't fit the vibe.
I also hate that all of Graces problems are just blamed on ~hormones, when actually she's inches away from a mental breakdown (which imo is what the "current day" timeline documents). It felt quite misogynistic, even though it was written by a woman and presumably based somewhat on her own experience of peri-menopause. Grace really needs to see a therapist, instead of blaming all her actions and thoughts on the hormonal changes in her body.
If you want to read this book, absolutely check the trigger warnings first.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence and Police brutality
prairieraven's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Not sure of this story affected me more because I'm a parent of children/some now adults, or because I have my own traumas and mental health issues. The main characters are all flawed like real people and make the best and worst decisions like we all do.
I read this all in one sitting, started at 11pm and finished at 2 am. The storyline hooks start early with this one and pull all the way through. Heartbreaking all the way through to the end.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
franklola's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Police brutality, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
lindsaylhunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Minor: Police brutality