bethboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall, the book was a pretty interesting read. It's quick, took me like 2 days, and isn't too dark or too light. There is a little romance, some character studies and development, some mystery, some supernatural. It gets a little boring in the middle because the author seems to spend a lot of time on seemingly everyday tasks, but I guess that's the point, to establish some normalcy. The ending felt pretty anticlimactic, which feels bad because someone dies, but because you know that a child dies from the first page onward, it hit softer. But it wasn't a terrible ending.
My highest praise is for the narrator of the audio version. Imogen Church is an angel and a goddess and her performance was amazing in this. It felt like I these people were real.
Spoiler
I guessed that Bill was her dad the moment that they met. I have proof, I entered a little note when I was updating my progress. I hate that the book wasn't an actual haunting, but I guess they were pretty clear about it being a murder from the beginning. IDK. I really liked the soft moments between Rowan and the girls, I wish she could have really connected with Rhiannon. Ellie's letter at the end hurt my heart and did explain a lot so that was very good.Graphic: Sexual harassment and Forced institutionalization
mallory10100's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Infidelity
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Sexual violence, Self harm, Police brutality, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Bullying, Dementia, Excrement, Gore, Infidelity, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
i loved this book homophobia TW is there bc the author uses the F slur for cigarettes because she’s british