The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
the_wistful_word_witch's review against another edition
5.0
I spent a good chunk of my life in the town that Monica Potts writes about, from around the time I was 10 or 11 to 24 (although it was only part time once I turned 18 and started going to the UofA in Fayetteville and travelling abroad during my longer holidays). I actually grew up in her periphery, being in the same grade as her middle sister, Ashley, although we weren't in the same friend groups. I know all of the people mentioned, some better than others. And I spent a good portion of my time there wishing I was somewhere, anywhere else.Â
It felt like Monica was telling a very similar story to my own. I ran away from Clinton as fast as I could, and spent years trying to forget it and Arkansas in general. And I left behind many people that I cared about but couldn't save, people who are stuck in cycles that are painfully similar to Darci's - more forgotten girls. I have since reconnected with some of them in one form or another. Others have been lost to time.Â
This book made me ache with sadness, rage, dispair... And it just solidified my determination to never move back - not to Clinton, not to Arkansas, and maybe not even the US. More power to those who are capable of doing so, maybe their ties were stronger. My experiences have changed me too much to fit in, if I ever did at all...
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
edhyndman's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racism
mondovertigo's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Racism
Minor: Abortion, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
flowerrunner's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Pregnancy
greyt_things's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Child death
bschweig717's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, Self harm, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Suicide, Abandonment, and Addiction
bookmaddie's review against another edition
3.75
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Graphic: Domestic abuse, Car accident, Child death, Confinement, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide attempt
rly's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Miscarriage, Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
rootedreader's review against another edition
3.0
Monica Potts sets out to investigate the causes of poverty, specifically the poverty of women from rural areas of America. Overall I enjoyed this book, one of my top genres to read is investigative journalism. Though listed as memoir, my experience reading this was somewhere in the middle. Connecting several systemic issues, she describes a situation that leaves many opportunities for someone to "fall into" and stay in poverty. The memoir side of the book was a bit difficult for me. Comparing her and her best friend's life choices it came across as judgmental-towards her friend as well as the town. The last chapter or two threw me for a loop as well as (*SPOILER*) she moved back to that same town she spent the whole book criticizing.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Drug abuse
debussy's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Minor: Miscarriage and Physical abuse