megpancoast's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
greenmind'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I watched the film adaptation after I finished the book - it was frustratingly crap. Can’t recommend it.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Car accident
Moderate: Ableism, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, and Domestic abuse
butternana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
aneeley's review
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Murder and Domestic abuse
bookcaptivated's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Murder, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Excrement, Antisemitism, Confinement, Ableism, Fatphobia, Grief, and Infidelity
Minor: Vomit, Car accident, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Dementia, Misogyny, Racism, Trafficking, and Death of parent
rebwenhall's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Ableism, Murder, Addiction, and Alcoholism
veronicachp's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book has been on my TBR for literally 10 years, and on my bookshelf at home for jist about as long. I honestly assumed I wasn't going to like it and kept putting off reading it, so consider me pleasantly surprised. My main gripes are that a lot of the "gritty" scenes and dialogue feel like they're tossed in there for shock value and not really blended in, and I wish there was a little more emotional development for everyone. The whole novel, including some pretty major character deaths, just reads as kind of stiff, impassive. I would have liked for there to be a little more insight to the characters reacting/processing things and some more focus on the side characters. BUT since it is written from Jacob's perspective and he is not omniscient I can somewhat forgive the whole book being the Jacob and Marlena show. Also TW: If you, like me, struggle with emetophobia, many scenes in this book will make you uncomfortable. Lotta throwing up in this bad boy.
Graphic: Vomit and Death of parent
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse and Murder
itshrewsbury's review
- 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? N/A
4.0
16+
TW/CW: Misogyny, animal death, violence, nsfw scenes, slurs/anti-semitism, murder
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, and Antisemitism
planetshelf's review
- 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
The way Jacob — 90 (or 93) — is written is wonderful. I don’t know exactly what elders think, but I grew up with grandparents as my guardians and I feel an oddly sentimental connection with the more utilitarian thoughts that were written.
I feel this may be worth mentioning: the author uses non-colloquial vocabulary when referring to a body. If that might be uncomfortable for you, you probably should let this one go.
Nonetheless, I liked it and thought it was a fun journey to read.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism, Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Death, Animal death, Infidelity, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Car accident, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
jenna_justi2004's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Cursing, Bullying, Cancer, Classism, Death, Murder, Blood, Chronic illness, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Stalking, Violence, Body horror, Mental illness, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic relationship