mlbreton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I did have some issues with the book, but mostly with the characters and what the author was trying to make us feel about them. For example,
Spoiler
I found Isa awful. I thought it was so cruel of her the way she treated her husband and being so offended that he thought he was cheating, but she was being so distant and not communicating with him AT ALL so I think it's natural his head went where it did! And we're we supposed to LIKE Ambrose, the father/artist that drew his daughter and teenage friends NAKED?! I don't care how much the main girls said it "wasn't like that", it's creepy as hell and SO inappropriate. Lastly, with Kate and Luc, we're we supposed to be rooting for them at the end? Or find it romantic that she wanted to sacrifice her life and freedom for her brother she was SEXUALLY INVOLVED WITH?!? I did not get that at all and couldn't get past that weird family dynamic to find any of them likeable.Overall, the book kept me engaged but I did find it disappointing that it ended on
Spoiler
another lieMinor: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Incest
cmklaft's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Spoiler
Main character and obsessive relationship with child unnecessary to plot and honestly obnoxious. I don't need to read that you breastfeeding every other page, got it your child it hungry thanks for all the unnecessary details with 0 value added. Plot was predictable, no wow factor, slow slow start that just seemed to drag everything out. So many holes in the story. Major details compared to previous novels
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Addiction, Animal death, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug abuse, Murder, Drug use, Self harm, Eating disorder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death
xkwright's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Cancer, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Deportation
sylvestra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Suicide, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Incest, Toxic friendship, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Eating disorder
singalana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Päähenkilö Isa on tuore äiti, joka saa tekstiviestin ystävältään Katelta, ja pian neljä ystävystä ovat jälleen koossa, koska heidän salaisuutensa on tulossa päivänvaloon. Valitettavasti Isan persoonallisuus pyörii täysin äitiyden ympärillä, eikä hahmossa ole tarttumapintaa. Isan hössötys vauvan ympärillä vie huomiota pois muulta tarinalta, eikä vauvan mukanaolo tuo tarinalle mitään lisäarvoa. Jos imettämisestä lukeminen ei kiinnosta, päähenkilön seuraaminen voi olla hieman raskasta. Lisäksi Isan ja hänen miehensä välillä on turhaa jännitettä, koska pariskunta ei kommunikoi keskenään.
Tarinassa on kaksi aikajanaa, ja pikkuhiljaa alkaa paljastua mitä tapahtui tyttöjen ollessa sisäoppilaitoksessa. Kirjan ensimmäiset 300 sivua ovat hieman tylsät, ja viimeiset 20 sivua on tungettu täyteen toimintaa. Lisäksi kun mysteeri paljastuu, naisten reaktiot sen paljastumiseen tuntuu ylimitoitetulta. Valitettavasti juonessa käytetään paljon väärinkäsityksiä, ja lopussa on vielä dramaattinen "tuplatwisti", jotka tämän kirjan kohdalla tuntuvat vähän laiskoilta ratkaisuilta. Lisäksi kirjan nimikin viittaa valhepeliin, mutta pelillä ei loppujen lopuksi ole mitään merkitystä juonen kannalta.
Tämä ei ole huonoin Ruth Waren kirja jonka olen lukenut, mutta ei kyllä paraskaan.
Minor: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Infidelity, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, and Sexual content
alidathealien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved the setting and I think the author did a really good job of making it seem warm and beautiful in the past, but grey and cold in the present.
Iss dragging her baby up and down the coastline STRESSED me out!!!
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Infidelity
ashleygistinger's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Incest, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Fire/Fire injury
katymat18'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
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Animal death, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Medical content, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Stalking
Minor: Cancer, Islamophobia, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, and Bullying
ellynicholem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Moderate: Alcohol and Child abuse
Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Cursing, and Drug use