rachaelwho's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Another "comedy" I didn't find remotely funny, I can't seem to get away from it-- maybe it's me. I found this one very smart, clever even, but not funny. It was moving, but it felt pretty awful. The voice actress did an excellent job of performing Allison's confusion and sensory overwhelm, it felt visceral. I have a lot of sensitivity to sound, so I really felt those passages. I felt so much tension and anxiety at so many moments, particularly when she held the baby. Processing her experience, deciding how she felt about what various people did to her and what it might mean for those relationships, second-guessing her decisions and the placement of her trust or consent... It was a lot.
I initially was going to give this book 4-point-something, but realized that while it wasn't my personal favorite ever, there's really nothing I would change, so it gets all five. Very worthwhile read, but to me, very challenging and emotional. I'm still thinking about it and I might read this one again someday, I think.
I initially was going to give this book 4-point-something, but realized that while it wasn't my personal favorite ever, there's really nothing I would change, so it gets all five. Very worthwhile read, but to me, very challenging and emotional. I'm still thinking about it and I might read this one again someday, I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Blood, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Vomit, Gore, Confinement, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Toxic friendship and Death of parent
danalovestoread's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Well written, but I swear this book made me feel like I was the one with a concussion! I felt like I was dazed and had a headache, just as the character did. It wasn't a pleasant experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Medical content, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
suzyreadsbooks's review
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
3.0
gifted to me by knopf!
a good beach read. it really hits the ground running. weird, choppy, propulsive despite the lulls in plot. really funny moments, really tender moments about grief and family, lots of ridiculousness. you can easily breeze through it all, even the parts veering on horror, because Allison’s narration jumps all over the place due to her very recent brain injury.
but i am tired of authors deciding to prove a character’s unlikeability by having them make random microaggressions! and let's stop using mental illness as the antagonist’s motivations!
a good beach read. it really hits the ground running. weird, choppy, propulsive despite the lulls in plot. really funny moments, really tender moments about grief and family, lots of ridiculousness. you can easily breeze through it all, even the parts veering on horror, because Allison’s narration jumps all over the place due to her very recent brain injury.
but i am tired of authors deciding to prove a character’s unlikeability by having them make random microaggressions! and let's stop using mental illness as the antagonist’s motivations!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Body horror, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Medical content, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Drug use and Racism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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