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riaroo400's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bootrat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I hated most of the characters in this book, Abernathy and Polly were the only ones I cared about. Although Flora is the main character in this, I found it very hard to relate to her, to sympathise, or to care about her. She jumps from one bad situation to another, and though that's normal and true of many abused people she left Jordan far too easily for her actions to be believable.
There's so much sexual assault and abuse in this book, and while that's what you'd expect from the characters it was definitely A Choice from the author to make that a central part of this book when the characters could have been evil in a different way instead.
The "romance" between Flora and Minnie is really anything but romantic. They talk of love, but to me their relationship was all about ownership, control, and desperation. Given what we learnt at the end of the book I really hated that this relationship existed at all.
The Knowing isn't explored anywhere near enough for me, and even in the times where it's used it feels very brushed over and unexplained.
If I wasn't reading this for a book club I probably would have DNFd it.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pregnancy
guybrushtmp's review
Graphic: Ableism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
clarke's review
1.0
There is a lot of abuse in this book. It very quickly starts you off in one abusive relationship and sweeps you into another (with rape scenes, references, and other SA featured heavily throughout). The blurb describes a love triangle between Florence, Minnie, and Chester. Whilst Florence is 'saved' from her first abuser by Minnie, her fate doesn’t seem much better. Minnie is the lesser of two evils, but both Minnie and Chester try to force themselves on Florence at least once, and it's all very icky with power imbalances and all kinds of abuse. Chester is also sexually abusive to Polly, who I think is a minor, but she's only described as 'young' so I'm not sure of her age. I didn't really like anyone and reading it was a chore. This combined with so many abusive relationships (I don't think I could ever root for Florence and Minnie with how things started, idk how it ends) solidified that I need to DNF. I'm very reluctant to DNF books in general, but I'm learning more and more that I need to stop wasting my energy on things I don't enjoy.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment