rhiannonellis_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really enjoyed the character development - particularly Carey and Jenessa.
Spoiler
When Jenessa finally spoke out loud and was calling after the dog I was so happy!! /spoiler> I also really liked Melissa and the dad - very wholesome. I found Delaney very annoying tho.I did find the plot really predictable which was quite disappointing
Spoiler
I pretty much knew from the first few chapters that she killed a man that raped herI also think it was pretty random chucking in the love interest Ryan - I really liked his character but I just feel like it was thrown in.
I did like the happy ending, however I don’t think I would read the book again.
There really needs to be some content warnings about this book - Child rape.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, and Vomit
calamitywindpetal'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Bullying
the_night_owl's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Rape and Child abuse
conspystery'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? It's complicated
4.25
Spoiler
(and especially considering the detail of what Carey calls the white-star night; it gives her character so much depth, since there’s no easy cut-and-dry resolution of that guilt.)Spoiler
but it’s worked into the plot later on-- he treats her differently because he already knows who she is, which gives their entire situation more complexity (even if that detail itself if a little bit contrived, too.) Their relationship is rocky and complicated, especially in the context of Carey’s trauma.Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Drug abuse, Drug use, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Violence and Pedophilia
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
A pretty big trigger warning for this book is also a spoiler:Spoiler
murder and death arekeepsleep's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Kidnapping, Rape, Cursing, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Minor: Gun violence
haleymaple's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Murder
This is a young adult novel but it involves HEAVY issues. Proceed with cautionwondermajica'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, Rape, and Pedophilia
antoniarachael28'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
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit
joppiereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
But, it fell a little flat for me overall.
Spoiler
I'm saddened by the apparent lack of follow-up therapy for both girls after they are found. The speed with which the girls settle into normal life (though very nice) felt uncomfortably quick. Years of abuse and/or previous lives were forgotten within three months. I didn't really buy that - no matter how sweet Melissa and Dad are. And there was the easy use of (overused) tropes, like the popular mean girl (who is secretly just hurting) Delaney, the fact that Carey happens to meet and like the same boy Delly crushed on, the prodigy status Carey holds academically and musically and also socially (oh and of course she is the most beautiful girl anyone's ever seen out of a magazine, she could be a model)... it was a little much.A final minor annoyance: The novel also starts off with a strongly accented inner voice, which Carey seemingly drops in a few pages (specifically the dropped gs, which completely disappeared quickly), even though this was apparently how she has spoken for a good ten years.
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Pedophilia and Addiction