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sazzzberry'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Grief, Stalking, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
kate_not_kate'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? It's complicated
4.25
Nope it was definitely not the summer read I was hoping to get. 3 different underage girls are getting rapped. One by her stepdad, other by the brother and main character by her stepbrother. Till the end I don’t understand why she blamed herself what happened with her “DeFiNeTlY not a serial killer” (yes he could be the one) stepbrother.
The real good part of the book was Jonas and Anna. The stories with them were really interesting to read.
But still, be prepared to read a book where in the second chapter a 9 year old girl is forced to give bj her stepdad and where parents don’t see all the abuse that happens.
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
lou_ka's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual violence
lusignank's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.0
Graphic: Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual harassment
kmart29's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
mdal26'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
3.75
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Grief, and Gaslighting
droden6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I don’t know where to begin. First, ALL of the trigger warnings you can imagine. Second, this could have easily been 100 pages shorter. Third, I didn’t need a billion characters, especially when one reappeared at the end and I had completely forgotten about them.
The two stars are only because the setting and its descriptions were beautiful and perfect for the summer. Also, I was transported into this summer trip, even though I didn’t know what I was signing up for. I definitely need a palette cleanser after this.
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual violence
chapterchatswithcaroline'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? Yes
4.0
The Paper Palace had been sitting on my TBR ever since this book came out and was hyped.
The story follows Elle, who is vacationing in Cape Cod at her grandfather’s family home called the Paper Palace, along with her family and long-time best friend. When she is met with an unexpected situation, she must choose between her long-awaited love or the life she has with her loving husband and three children.
The book is certainly beautifully written, but there wasn’t anything that wowed me much about it. I felt the author played it safe. However, it was a story that kept me hooked because I wanted to see how it would end and who Elle would ultimately choose. That curiosity was a good enough reason to keep me engaged.
The book was a slow burner, and some chapters dragged on. The dual timeline also got confusing at times, making it difficult to distinguish between past and present, especially since 80% of the book is written in flashbacks. Additionally, dividing the book into five parts with three parts named after the main characters seemed unnecessary, as the story continued in the same style and was told from Elle’s point of view. If the story had been told from multiple points of view, this division might have made more sense.
The characters were okay, not much to love or hate; they all had their own secrets, lies, and burdens to carry. The book is full of trigger warnings and explicit sex scenes that readers should watch out for when picking this one up.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, especially if you’re not in a hurry and looking for a slow-burn, character-driven book.
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
jessiehg'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? It's complicated
3.0
- the time cuts exploring a similar theme across generations are so close to being too obvious and trite, but there’s enough complexity and difference that they work well
- the characters verge on 1 dimensional, but they’re also not overwritten which I’m grateful for
- Elle’s motivations and the deep rippling effects of her childhood on her choices are very well done, as is the reasoning (absolution) behind the affair finally occurring
- the end will bother some, but I think it was the only option
- I saw most things coming, but you could take that as well constricted and neat rather than obvious
There’s something here about starting in a simplistic idea of lifelong longing finally acted upon, and then simultaneously strengthening the reader’s belief in that “cosmic connection” and (through an unreliable narrator) revealing flags of the flawed, bad (but not in the way they think they are!) people who would in reality not ride off into the sunset but likely hurt each other like all partners do. Jonas is a dick to his wife, Elle is obviously coping with her mistakes and explores those things (eg lying, distance to husband).
Once I hit about halfway I found it difficult to put down. I was deeply affected. But I didn’t LOVE it.
This may be better on screen than on paper - what verges on flat in the book could be fleshed out with great acting.
It helped me to keep reminding myself that this is my parent’s generation, and in a lot of ways her reactions are very well written for that.
Starting this book in the affair and love triangle is indicative of the target audience. The average airport/rom com reader wants empty longing and sex as a hook to then become invested in the real story. Personally, the real story is what it took for me to give any amount of shits about the affair. An understandable and commercially wise choice, but not to my liking.
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty and Terminal illness
prinzesstephi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Infidelity