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sareeta'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
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infidelity, Dementia, and Stalking
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
doodlebeanz'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
1.5
This book was about two women at the lowest points of their life and you can't even feel badly for them. They made every wrong choice. I facepalmed at least once a chapter at the stupidity of these two women. Normally in domestic thrillers like this, you're rooting for the women to get away from the man, but in this instance, I was just hoping one of them would grow a brain and make a right choice for once.
The writing was also just... not good. I don't want to say horrendous, but close to. It was so juvenile, it had no flow and it didn't feel natural. It was so cold and lackluster, like I was reading a text book or something, I can't even explain it. I didn't feel any connection to any character; no one was flushed out, no one had any depth to them, everything was rushed, everything was hinted at before it happened, there were some twists but honestly, it was just exhausting. The author threw in SO many twists that it just became repetitive and unrealistic and exhausting for the reader. So many times I had to say 'wait, what?' and go back and re-read a sentence but it still didn't make a whole lot of sense, it almost felt like Harding forgot what she was writing too. Everyone had the same tone, if that makes sense. The main characters (Lee, Jesse, Hazel, Benjamin) all had the same tone as all the lawyers, Jesse's brother, the receptionist at a salon (characters who were just there for a scene or two). It was just so... flat. No affect. Just completely void of creativity.
The only reason this book gets a star and a half is because I did consume it very quickly. I was obsessed with finishing it and wondering what the hell was going on. It was a disappointing read and definitely a hate read. I hated how much I wanted to know, how I kept turning the pages and staying up far past my bed time to get to the end/the point. Sadly, I never got to the point but I did luckily get to the end.
This book got so much praise on GoodReads and maybe I am just being harsh, but this was a bad book. I would not recommend this to anyone. I will not be grabbing anther one of Harding's book off the shelf anytime soon. Disappointing.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident
priscillarobock'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
4.75
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic
briana_elaine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
hellokatya's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i read this book as a palette cleanser, and it did me so right.
i ate this book right up. it’s fast paced, sucks you right in, and doesn’t let you go until it’s done with you.
you think you know what’s happening or where it’s going, but you dont. very intricate and thought out, but still plausible.
highly recommend.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Body horror, Death of parent, and Classism
sstewart89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
daniofthewood'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
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Slavery
killmoore_'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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
katiedoesntftba'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
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident
a_libraryghost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
There were some plot threads though that did feel unnecessary and like they didn’t go anywhere. I also wasn’t in love with the ending. It felt unfinished. I was surprised when I saw how little was left on the second last chapter.
Overall still a great book though.
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic