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sarahl0726'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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
asourceoffiction'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 abuse, Mental illness, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
mathildemroy's review
4.25
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicide attempt
_maeike's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really really liked this book. Could have been a tiny bit shorter but the pacing and everything was still great.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent
kell_xavi's review
3.5
The writing reminded me Nina LaCour, with its gentle movement through memory and its aftermath. Though Watch Over Me and We Are Okay, the most similar novels to this one, are both centred around characters 20+ years younger than Alexander’s protagonist, the voices had commonalities: a sense of small wonders, isolation, low self-esteem and a lot of self-blame, kindness and brokenness and pride in small achievements. Part of this is how the titular character here is treated, but the youthful is also a little odd, and I sometimes forgot she had 40 years of life within her.
A couple parts come together too easily, and others are belaboured, which lessens my overall rating. Fiona is a tangled character with a complex relationship to her sister, so it’s inevitably messy , but I think the depiction could’ve been stronger. And I don’t think either trendy pop version of the cover fits the book well! I did enjoy Meredith and her support network though. I liked the jigsaw puzzles and baking, the lack of judgment on age or any sort of expected landmark; I feel that depression and its most difficult effects are represented well in these pages.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Fatphobia
savvyrosereads'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
Rating: 4/5 stars
Meredith has not left her house for over three years, but slowly begins to make progress on the journey to healing with the help of her friends.
This is extremely character-driven literary fiction, and I’m glad I read it on audio because that is usually my preferred format for that genre! I expected a meditation on mental health, and instead got one on friendship, sisterhood, and trauma…which is fine, but not exactly what the synopsis seems to suggest. That said, I found the characters really enjoyable, and Meredith’s journey was super poignant and beautiful. I was a bit frustrated because I kept wanting *more* from the book (though exactly what I can’t articulate)…but would still recommend to lit fic lovers in the mood for some very deep topics!
CW: Self harm; sexual assault; physical and emotional abuse; mental health/trauma generally
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
besidemyshelf'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
3.75
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Rape
revengesrose's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Alcohol
coligmueller's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
elliethecatlover's review
- 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: Rape
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt