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lovememore_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Minor: Sexual assault
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Did I turn almost 30 and then start unintentionally reading several books that examine the horrific monstrosity of motherhood, my deep fear of having a child when you are clearly not suited to having one, and cementing my desire to not have children.
This is incredible storytelling, despite the lack of plot. It is a character study of a mother through her eyes as she raises a son she hates (and loves) in unequal measure. Interspersed with short extracts from characters who witness the events unfold around this family, we see the story of a queer family revealed in new light. It is a visceral and humid study of the unreliable narrator, expertly told. Very dark and very horrific and had me on the edge of my seat in horror throughout. It has cemented Kristen Arnott as one of my favourite contemporary writers.
Content warnings: emotional and financial abuse, toxic relationship, child abuse, cheating, animal cruelty, sexual assault, attempted kidnapping
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
laurenparham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
- I was there for the examination of queer adult/married life, and how the characters struggled with trying to match heterosexual norms while also losing their connections to other queer people.
- Every character in this book is just horrid and makes such terrible decisions, and yet you can't help but feel for them. It's quite a trick, and Arnett is the master of it.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol