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mad_dog_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
sarahweyand's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
1.25
I thought THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS was going to be my low-rated book on the month, but look at me exceed expectations. Maybe part of the reason here is on me, but I thought this book was a YA mystery when it was in fact a very adult thriller that centers heavily around the first listed trigger warning here. The book's synopsis in no way alludes to this being the crux of the story, reader be warned. So....not the most fun surprise.
I can understand and appreciate some dark, disturbing literature when done right. I read a lot of horror and I like a lot of horror. But in this context I cannot stand for the girl-on-girl hate and women blaming this book is full of. Every woman is alluded to being or just flat-out described as a slut, a mean girl, trailer trash, or some other nasty moniker that is not equally ascribed to the male characters. And given what this book is about at it's core, that's really fucking disgusting.
Unfortunately, I think this means I'm done with Amy Engel as an author, but maybe that's for the best. Please don't read this book. If you need something dark and depraved, read PRETTY GIRLS or something. And if you're a contrarian and this means you really have to read it now, please read the content warnings so you know what you're getting into. I'm not messing around.
I can understand and appreciate some dark, disturbing literature when done right. I read a lot of horror and I like a lot of horror. But in this context I cannot stand for the girl-on-girl hate and women blaming this book is full of. Every woman is alluded to being or just flat-out described as a slut, a mean girl, trailer trash, or some other nasty moniker that is not equally ascribed to the male characters. And given what this book is about at it's core, that's really fucking disgusting.
Unfortunately, I think this means I'm done with Amy Engel as an author, but maybe that's for the best. Please don't read this book. If you need something dark and depraved, read PRETTY GIRLS or something. And if you're a contrarian and this means you really have to read it now, please read the content warnings so you know what you're getting into. I'm not messing around.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Incest
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Child death and Abandonment
blacksphinx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Grief
Minor: Violence and Murder
Slut shaming, victim blaming.alliereads_'s review against another edition
dark
tense
2.0
This book was just not for me. It was an easy enough read so I stuck with it, but there was nothing compelling me to finish - I wasn’t interested in finding out what happened, so much of it felt unnecessary and redundant, and moreover, I was uncomfortable with the portrayal of the young women.
It really disturbed me how much Engel portrayed the girls as willing participants in affairs with Yates as opposed to what they really were: victims. Sophia committing suicide because she was jealous that he loved someone else more and Penelope dressing to seduce him: both depictions give these children too much agency and will when in reality they had none and would likely have been devastated and full of hatred due to Yates’ abuse. Even Sharon paints the girls as the masterminds, rendering herself and Lillian as the victims of their affairs. Not to mention the constant harping on Allegra as an irrefutably broken person - a pretty harsh friction of someone struggling to overcome a lifetime of incest.
It infuriated me how dense Lane was, too, refusing to consider that Allegra might have left Roanoke knowing that she might have a baby - aka Yates’ next victim - on the way. Why wouldn’t she tell Tommy? Why is she protecting her grandparents? Why didn’t Tommy or the grandparents think to check the swimming hole before Lane stumbled upon it? Unfortunately, some of this is realistic, and some Engel remedied for me through Lane’s monologue towards the end. But it just wasn’t enough to change my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Miscarriage, and Rape
playswithstring's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
antidietleah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
cannibaldear's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book grew on me like a rot (complimentary)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Incest, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent
damnitdelayna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Book Dynamics✨
Non linear timeline
One POV (mostly)
Dark AF
Slow Paced
JFC this was exactly what I thought it would be and I still wasn’t prepared.
A great portrayal of grooming and how someone can get so easily trapped in the unthinkable.
I liked how it wove together past and present for Lane but also the story of each Roanoke Girl. The family tree at the beginning of the book was very helpful in remembering who belonged to who once things started to unfold.
Overall: grab if you want a slow burn make your stomach churn family drama - I don’t even know if family drama is the right term here though 🫠
Favorite Character: Cooper
Non linear timeline
One POV (mostly)
Dark AF
Slow Paced
JFC this was exactly what I thought it would be and I still wasn’t prepared.
A great portrayal of grooming and how someone can get so easily trapped in the unthinkable.
I liked how it wove together past and present for Lane but also the story of each Roanoke Girl. The family tree at the beginning of the book was very helpful in remembering who belonged to who once things started to unfold.
Overall: grab if you want a slow burn make your stomach churn family drama - I don’t even know if family drama is the right term here though 🫠
Favorite Character: Cooper
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
cyntismiles's review against another edition
I feel like I could have finished this book but life is short and there are lots of books I want to read!
I picked it up because the blurb sounded like this would be "'Preacher's Daughter' from Ethel Cain's cousin's perspective" which was very intriguing to me. It was definitely not that, don't recommend picking this up for those reasons. Just listen to "Preacher's Daughter" again instead.
I really could not stand how much of the book was about Lane and Cooper's relationship. I understand why Lane is characterized the way she is but I found her very grating. The book has a lot of sex but is not sexy (don't wish it was sexy though, just think that's a good descriptor).
The story felt very obvious to me and it was kind of frustrating for the characters to not see it. The whole book I kept saying "I see the writing on the walls!". Also, the way that Allegra gives us clues from afar was a real obvious plot device to me. It felt very contrived and very dumb. It made her feel fictional. Since I decided to DNF this, I looked up spoilers and would like to say I was absolutely right on all accounts(Her grandfather is actually her dad, grandma killed Allegra ofc!, grandpa/dad was grooming her, Allegra is 4 sure dead) . The only thing I didn't get clarity on is if the miscarriage in the book was an abortion (I suspect it was). But Lane is a bit clueless so I wonder if she ever questioned it.
I also didn't love the characterization of the town because it was really hammered home that the people who lived there were dumb and it was so behind the times. I understand this may have been Lane's interpretation but it felt very weird and more about the book than Lane? Like it was trying to insinuate that only fucked up things happen in fucked up little towns that aren't here in the 21st century! I don't think the author was trying to say that but that was the vibe I was feeling. I know that small towns can be a mess but tbh so can anywhere. Good people can live anywhere just like bad people can live anywhere!
I think this book may do a good job of showing how incest may differ from what people outside the situation perceive it to be and the way groomed individuals may feel about their groomer (although it is gross and not good). It just didn't seem to actually want to be about that? The book felt like "The story of why Lane is so messed up with her own things + her family has weird incest secrets don't mind that!". I appreciate the author attempting to write about this from an outsider-ish perspective (Lane) vs the victim/survivor of the abuse (Allegra) but I think there are books that do this kind of thing better. In the end, I felt that the incest thing was such a plot device to shock the reader and more of the setting than something the author wanted to actually deal with.
I picked it up because the blurb sounded like this would be "'Preacher's Daughter' from Ethel Cain's cousin's perspective" which was very intriguing to me. It was definitely not that, don't recommend picking this up for those reasons. Just listen to "Preacher's Daughter" again instead.
I really could not stand how much of the book was about Lane and Cooper's relationship. I understand why Lane is characterized the way she is but I found her very grating. The book has a lot of sex but is not sexy (don't wish it was sexy though, just think that's a good descriptor).
The story felt very obvious to me and it was kind of frustrating for the characters to not see it. The whole book I kept saying "I see the writing on the walls!". Also, the way that Allegra gives us clues from afar was a real obvious plot device to me. It felt very contrived and very dumb. It made her feel fictional. Since I decided to DNF this, I looked up spoilers and would like to say I was absolutely right on all accounts
I also didn't love the characterization of the town because it was really hammered home that the people who lived there were dumb and it was so behind the times. I understand this may have been Lane's interpretation but it felt very weird and more about the book than Lane? Like it was trying to insinuate that only fucked up things happen in fucked up little towns that aren't here in the 21st century! I don't think the author was trying to say that but that was the vibe I was feeling. I know that small towns can be a mess but tbh so can anywhere. Good people can live anywhere just like bad people can live anywhere!
I think this book may do a good job of showing how incest may differ from what people outside the situation perceive it to be and the way groomed individuals may feel about their groomer (although it is gross and not good). It just didn't seem to actually want to be about that? The book felt like "The story of why Lane is so messed up with her own things + her family has weird incest secrets don't mind that!". I appreciate the author attempting to write about this from an outsider-ish perspective (Lane) vs the victim/survivor of the abuse (Allegra) but I think there are books that do this kind of thing better. In the end, I felt that the incest thing was such a plot device to shock the reader and more of the setting than something the author wanted to actually deal with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, and Abortion
cateyeschloe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was warned going in that this book is dark and twisted, and that definitely rings true!
I read the book in a day and enjoyed (if I can use that word for this subject?) every minute of it.
The story had me engaged from the Prologue and I stayed engrossed throughout every chapter. The characters are all interesting and multi-faceted, each shining a light on varying shades of grey in their moral compasses. The majority of characters have an effective character development and arch one way or another and where that growth may be lacking in some areas intentionally serves the story quite well.
The book presents many characters who are extremely flawed and deeply affected by the ripple effects of situations and traumas in their lives. The interesting aspect, though, is that the author makes a point not to vilify most of these characters regardless of the choices they make and the actions they take (save for perhaps one character, who in my opinion cannot be anything other than a villain, so that could just be my lens coloring that perspective).
The author also does an excellent job of highlighting how often both society, individuals, and sometimes even our own minds will shift blame onto victims (specifically women) and twist the situation away from the actions and motivations of the perpetrator or abuser.
This book tackles trauma, depression, suicidal ideation, internalized misogyny, assault, and abuse head on in many different forms and makes a concerted effort to showcase each of these from an outlook of empathy and patience.
The topics covered in this book are grizzly, uncomfortable, and often very unsettling. However, I will definitely say it’s not an overly graphic book, in my opinion. The author explains what is going on without getting so visceral in the details that you reach a point where you feel like you need to shower.
It lost a few points from me simply because I wished the ending had resolved things a little more completely or thoroughly, but the choices the author makes do still make sense.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone with the stomach for darker, troubling subjects!
As a suggestion however, I would definitely recommend checking out the trigger warnings before reading if you have any concerns.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, and Abandonment