lain_'s review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Blood, Death, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gun violence, Child death, Medical content, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Murder, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Child death
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Self harm, Infertility, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
haley_cross's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Injury/injury detail, and Sexual assault
coleeflower's review
- 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
1.5
Spoiler
I had never read a book by Colleen Hoover before, but this was so hyped by everyone at work that I had to check it out. Well, apparently we have very different tastes. At one point, i had to flip to the end to find out if she leaves him because if she didn't this was gonna be a big fat DNF. Once I got back to the ending, i do admit that i appreciated it and the fact that the author was actually trying to say something about domestic violence. But personally, it didn't make up for the way it previously felt like it was romanticizing DV.Ryle immediately gave me the ick because he was so coercive from literally the moment he met her. It didn't come off as assertive or dominant - just nasty. I dunno, maybe it hit a little too close to home for me but I hated him so much.
At different parts of the book, i had trouble suspending the disbelief for the plot. Like, you get an immediate-hire employee your first day you open your business and she also becomes your best friend (then sister in law and also neighbor)? Stuff like this can be fun, but i need to be convinced sometimes I guess. I have a hard time describing what I mean by this, though, or what makes it so unbelievable sometimes.
And every time they said, "naked truth," i wanted to vom.
If it weren't for the ending and for Atlas, i would've given this one star. But it taught me i like a partner indecision trope, for whatever that's worth. </Spoiler>
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Gun violence
evawertz'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
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
luca_18'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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Vomit
Minor: Classism and Death of parent
spicypenguin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Gore
cali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Blood, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, and Sexual assault
the_book_nook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Infertility
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Cursing, Death, Self harm, Terminal illness, Child death, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Gore, and Alcohol
skylerm00's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
<Spoilers below>
The reason I didn’t rate this book above 5 stars is because I feel like Ryle did not get appropriate consequences to his actions. With how badly he beat lily and tried to rape her, I feel he doesn’t deserve a relationship with his daughter for at least a little bit longer. I understand lily’s hesitation with divorcing him, it’s a realistic story, however I feel he didn’t get enough punishment. I also feel Alyssa’s reaction was not as extreme as it should be. The first time he got physical with lily and his sister was saying to hear him out it made more sense bc she didn’t know the extent however sexual assault? Biting her?! I just can’t believe everyone else in their lives was okay with him being around his daughter and they all seemed to forgive him almost immediately. While I do like how likable they made Ryle and how Hoover made him complex instead of a “true villain” because that’s how life works, I just think the other characters should have been angrier with him for longer.
Also the Ellen thing was cringy and put me out of the story a bit
<Spoilers>
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Rape, Abandonment, Child abuse, Blood, and Child death
Minor: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Medical content
emilykayvsthelibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Rape, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, Gore, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault