The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
support_lesbian's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I don't know maybe I just didn't get it but this book sucks. It drags on way too long wallowing in its misery with a main character you're supposed to feel sympathy sense its the only perspective we get through the whole novel I guess but I will never never sympathize with a character who is objectively a bad mother in tandem with "oh its the child that's evil!! The child was evil the whole time!!" rhetoric that the author never challenged in this book and use it instead to double down on the mother character being the good guy and the kid being the bad guy.
Not to mention the husband is equally as shitty but just gets away from it completely scott free what the hell.
The way it goes about its narrative feels so insensitive to kids and actual and mothers actually struggling with mental illness it left a horrible taste in my mouth.
I didn't know where to put this in the above paragraphs but it also uses the "black mother takes it upon herself to take care of white child" scenario and how it plays out felt really racist to me so that's another thing this shit book has going on.
Not to mention the husband is equally as shitty but just gets away from it completely scott free what the hell.
The way it goes about its narrative feels so insensitive to kids and actual and mothers actually struggling with mental illness it left a horrible taste in my mouth.
I didn't know where to put this in the above paragraphs but it also uses the "black mother takes it upon herself to take care of white child" scenario and how it plays out felt really racist to me so that's another thing this shit book has going on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Suicide, Abandonment, Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Self harm
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book....WOW. Okay.
So what I want to say first is that I think going into this book expecting a thriller is a mistake. Even on the inside flap, it says it's more of a psychological drama. *Drama.* Anyone who goes into this expecting jump scares and some mystery to solve is going to be disappointed. I, however, went into it without any real expectations, other than that I knew it would be fucked up because every single person I spoke to who read it told me so. There are definitely horror elements, I would say, but I wouldn't say that it's a true horror or thriller.
The writing was so rich and haunting, it had me horrified even throughout the mundane parts of it, which I think takes a certain skill - a skill that I certainly don't possess. I also really enjoyed the themes within pertaining to generational trauma, found family, and how our parents - even if they want us to be different than they are, sometimes can't help but rub off on us. I also loved reading from Blythe's perspective - what an interesting and flawed character to get to be inside the mind of!!
I don't want to talk too much about what this book is actually about because I think you're better off going in at least partially blind. Be mindful of triggers and take care of yourself as needed.
I'm going to be thinking about this one for a long, long time.
So what I want to say first is that I think going into this book expecting a thriller is a mistake. Even on the inside flap, it says it's more of a psychological drama. *Drama.* Anyone who goes into this expecting jump scares and some mystery to solve is going to be disappointed. I, however, went into it without any real expectations, other than that I knew it would be fucked up because every single person I spoke to who read it told me so. There are definitely horror elements, I would say, but I wouldn't say that it's a true horror or thriller.
The writing was so rich and haunting, it had me horrified even throughout the mundane parts of it, which I think takes a certain skill - a skill that I certainly don't possess. I also really enjoyed the themes within pertaining to generational trauma, found family, and how our parents - even if they want us to be different than they are, sometimes can't help but rub off on us. I also loved reading from Blythe's perspective - what an interesting and flawed character to get to be inside the mind of!!
I don't want to talk too much about what this book is actually about because I think you're better off going in at least partially blind. Be mindful of triggers and take care of yourself as needed.
I'm going to be thinking about this one for a long, long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Abortion, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Suicide, Gore, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Death, Child death, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Excrement
moraina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a compelling read. I honestly felt bad for all of the characters for different reasons, it definitely shows how difficult the societal expectations that come with motherhood can be. Definitely not for the faint of heart if you’re sensitive to the topics in the content warnings, but if you’re child-free it will definitely resonate with you in some ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Self harm, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Mass/school shootings and Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Rape, and Vomit
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