maxine_t96's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Colonisation, Murder, Child abuse, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Sexual assault, Death, and Bullying
Moderate: Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Drug use
lucyrudd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Grief, Torture, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, and Violence
norwegianforestreader'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Deportation, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Physical abuse, Body horror, Grief, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Cancer, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Homophobia, Infidelity, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship
jacs63's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There's one chapter about the going's on in the 80's and 90's in Chelsea; then an up to date chapter about some members of the family, and then one about a very innocent member of the plot.
I find it hard sometimes to keep the interest going when there is a 2 chapter gap before the story continues again. I find it annoying.
Its a fairly gruesome story at times, but its quite predictable.
It's a good book and worth 4 stars, but so over-hyped by the publishers etc. Saying that, I will read the sequel, only because I want to find out about Phin.
Graphic: Bullying, Abandonment, Cursing, Rape, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Violence
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Rape, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Chronic illness, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty and Blood
bookmark3brodi'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? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Slavery, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Miscarriage, Car accident, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Kidnapping, Blood, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Bullying, and Pedophilia
jessltrueman'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug use, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Child abuse, Incest, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
bastobika's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
🏫 twisted family history
💕empathized with the characters
💯multiple POVs in different timelines
🔥slow burn
📖 tragic story with a happy ending
👎 :
👨👩👧 more of a family drama than a thriller
🚫 some components were hard to believe
💭 Overall Thoughts :
This book was a page turner despite being a slow burn with over 400 pages ! I loved the twisted and complicated family history that was unfolded beautifully through three perspectives from different people parallely in differ timelines. I deeply empathized with the traumatized teenagers and how they handled themselves.
The reveal about Libby’s birth parents were half expected and half out of the box which kept me engaged till almost the very end !
There were some parts in the plot though which didn’t seem quite realistic to me.
I could not relate how David got away with dominating for so many years and nobody noticed. For example, when Henry’s Uncle came and knocked for 7 days, didn’t get any response but didn’t do anything about it.
Also, when Henry introduced himself as Phin, drugged and locked Libby and Miller, took their phones and added trackers, it was weird that Libby and Miller didn’t question it later on that why Henry did this if his sole intention was just to find Libby.
And being a murder mystery, the murder itself wasn’t that interesting and also predictable.
But I still enjoyed reading the family drama ! And it’s such a poetic justice that I found David’s characteristics being reflected in Henry ! ❤️
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
amgarrido's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Drug use, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual assault, Infertility, and Infidelity
our_bookish_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Told in multiple POV, altering timelines.
The story, as far as characters, got muddled and very confusing because there were so many in play during the parts in the past. I did not see the thing with Michael coming! I liked how it happened and that it did. I feel bad for the kids in the past and present and the hardships growing up, no kid should have to endure any of it.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Child abuse, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Alcohol, Bullying, Gaslighting, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse