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crystalisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
definestrange's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Biphobia, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kappafrog's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really loved the way the setting of the house was described, with all the flowers and trees and the sense of seclusion. My favourite character was definitely Pat. I would have been happy to see more of his life! I liked the doctor-turned-bartender a lot too. Usually I gravitate towards queer women in books, especially historical ones, but it was harder to connect with the women in this book. I think it was just obvious that the author was writing what he knew with the queer men so their feelings and personalities shone through a lot more strongly than those of the women.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and War
barometz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Self harm, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Blood
thatchickengirl23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Biphobia, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Medical content
bibliomania_express's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Rosen does an excellent job evoking the brutality of the 1950s and the importance of queer communities. Evander "Andy" Mills starts out isolated, ready to drink his life away after he's caught in a queer club and fired from his job. At Lavender House, he starts to feel a part of the community, and discovering who he is. I liked that this book touches on lots of different family experiences, and the toll hiding can take.
On the murder mystery front, I enjoyed Andy as a detective. He's smart and tenacious, asking tough questions and drawing out secrets. With this being an isolated, closed-circle mystery, the murderer was rather obvious, somehow so much so that I initially discounted them, but it really couldn't have been anyone else. Still, there were interesting touches and some surprises.
I'm very interested to read the next book and see what happens with Andy next.
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Alcohol
Minor: Religious bigotry and Murder
ireadinbed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The big climatic reveals went by too fast for me, especially the confrontation at the end, but the set up was great with some little thrills thrown in (the thing in the soap!). Felt real to life and gritty in places without getting so graphic i needed to nope out.
Turns out making it gay makes me like cozier mysteries better.
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Murder
quercine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Outing
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Classism
r_a_bell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
urlocalrachael's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Hate crime and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, and Alcohol