Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

130 reviews

readerandrogue's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage

panickat123's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

littleroundface's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and Grief

jillianlottie26's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I almost dnf this book but I guess I'm glad I stuck it out to the end, at the very least to add to my yearly reading challenge. This book was so depressing, it was truly the accumulation of every bad thing that could happen to an individual and to families. I could tell exactly how it was going to end by chapter 2. This book was suppose to be about the preservation of the human spirit and enduring families but it really misses that mark. To me, the characters in this book really are just going through the motions. I really just don't get why everyone loves it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Dementia, and Kidnapping

emmareeser's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Racism and Kidnapping

evalynnfarkashasanbasri's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was my favorite book I have read all year, no contest. It was so beautiful, sad, and full. Of suspense, sibling love, honesty, rage, and a sense of searching for home. 

Spoilers Below:
There were many parts where I could tell what might be coming, but it was written so well. I braced myself and read on, and a few moments left me reeling---Ruthie's questions about her "dreams," Charlie's death, Ben almost reuniting with her in a crowd, her miscarriage... Towards the end, I broke down and cried happy tears at seeing Ruthie reunited with what remained of her family. I was so worried the entire time I read that Joe would die before seeing his youngest sibling again, that the beginning of the story was only a hope and not reality. With a book so rife with sorrow, I was grateful for such a gentle ending. And I would like more books to read and handsell please, Amanda Peters. 💙💚💙

Also, can I just take a minute to say how gorgeous this cover is? From the first moment I saw it pre-release, I have been so drawn to this book. It did not disappoint.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

karlee_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was such a beautiful book. Do not go in thinking it's a mystery - the cause of Ruthie's disappearance is made clear very quickly. This is much more a character study on grief and guilt in the wake of a family tragedy and what that does to the people impacted. The winding timeline and dual narrators create a unique atmosphere of reflection as the story is woven and we are filled in from the time Ruthie went missing to the present of Joe's deathbed where the novel begins. Peters has really given life to her cast of characters, making them people the reader wants to react to and interact with - both positively and negatively. I want Mae and Alice as aunties and I wanted to scream at Lenore and young Joe. Peters also describes tragic events with a deftness and respect that should be applauded, softening the pain while not diminishing the importance of the event. A stunning story that shows how grief can poison us, and how we can try to heal from that pain. Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Kidnapping

liahay's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage

emelynreads's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

4.0

Heartbreakingly beautiful. Like the author's short story collection, this novel explores the pervasive effects of colonialism on present day, family dynamics, and grief. 

Some of the characters were so frustrating to read through (aka Norma's mother) that I didn't connect with the story as much as I wanted to. But the payoff was worth it, and I like the dual narrative, and how the twist is unveiled. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Fatphobia

crayolabooks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Haunting and beautifully written

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Kidnapping