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kkulhannie's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
tesshersh'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
5.0
I also really liked that it didn’t end with a “if you kill him it means you’re just as bad as him” situation. Like no get his ass girl!!
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
hannahchung's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Trafficking, and Murder
shelbylynnn'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
Starting with my likes:
The plot was really fast-paced and there was plenty of twisty suspense to keep me intrigued the entire time. It had some great commentary on systemic misogyny, rape culture, and the very real fears of abuse, manipulation, and violence that women face living in today's society. The narrator was complex and flawed. She struggled with her own complicity in the violence she endured. She felt guilt and shame as a victim and had a hard time differentiating what she wanted from what she felt she deserved. I honestly didn't see the final plot twist coming and it felt like a fitting conclusion to the book.
Now the dislikes:
The podcast/interview format took me out of the story a bit. The narrator, Shay, was supposedly recounting things that took place 8+ years ago but she is quoting full conversations word for word. It just wasn't realistic. It also felt very odd and forced at times the way the dialogue was written between Shay and Jamie. I mean, she sees her childhood best friend for the first time in 10 years and immediately spills all of her darkest secrets to him and his very popular, very public podcast...really?? The things she was sharing were not only uncomfortable and deeply personal, but also potentially very dangerous as she accuses powerful men of doing horrible things to her and her friends, yet she tells him everything with no hesitation and no worries about the potential consequences of her confessions. I would've much preferred if we had gotten flashbacks of what happened to her rather than her retelling the story. Shay's husband and her marriage in general also felt very unnecessary and could've been left out with no effect on the story. It just made me like her less and made her involvement with Jamie even more uncomfortable (which was complicated and weird to me for other reasons).
My biggest issue with this book was that some things just didn't make sense.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
kayleighoneillonwheels'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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
decie'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? Yes
5.0
also - I don't think this is meant to be taken literally, and my rating would be significantly lower if had read it as a straight up culty murder mystery novel. but as an allegory/dramatization of existing power structures and corruption??? oh my god. yes.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug use
meghanwalsh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
ernareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
readersmultiverse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Shay tells her story as we read the interview transcript of the podcast between her and Jamie. She bravely puts herself in harms way in order to achieve her bigger goal. Both Shay and Jamie were likeable characters. My favourite going about this thriller was how intelligent the author was in using the story of A Thousand and One Nights as both her inspiration and anti-inspiration. Just brilliant and clever and shocking to the core.
The second half of the book was so exhilarating, I could feel my heart racing whilst reading it. There’s only a few thrillers that have that effect, and this is definitely one of them.
There are MANY triggers in this book so please check them before reading.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death
ineedchocolate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Pedophilia and Death of parent