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ditati's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
jackalest's review
- 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
5.0
Then the first phase of the book passed and delved into a deeper story that I could not remotely have anticipated. And I could not put it down.
This book is an easy 5 stars from me. Despite my initial expectations, and my disappointment to lose those, I can fully appreciate and cherish the direction the author took.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Rape
Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
telliot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Although while reading it I could help but think about how a major plot point was basically a stolen Seinfeld plot
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
asreadbykhyla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
redbolt's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse
mgann1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book felt like trauma-porn and a Frankenstein’s monster of genres that went every which way. The main plot ended about 60% through and the rest was just insufferable.
I would have enjoyed this book more if the author had expanded on the relationship between Jonah and Richard for a few more chapters. Building up some sort of emotional connection between the reading and the MC before devolving into the madness and abuse. Instead, the relationship was expedited and shallow, and the abuse began immediately before the MC could really believably become drawn to the abuser. In turn, there was no stakes and instead the reader watched as the MC knowingly put himself in harmful situations.
It easily could have ended after Jonah and Mace escaped and it would have been a satisfying ending to a thriller. Instead, the capture and escape happened within chapters of each other, and then the book continued for another 100 pages of internal dialogue, MORE trauma, and weird church propaganda.
I really wanted to like this book, but between the unlikeable MC and the copious amounts of rape, I really disliked it through and through.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
vintesta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
charlesmrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
(Side note - was anyone else rolling their eyes when Jonah said he went to Wheaton? This boring twit got into the extremely competitive "Christian Harvard"? With what money, what credentials, and what smarts?)
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
Conversion therapy is explicitly described.aely'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
Parks-Ramage managed to write realistic characters who go through SO much trauma, with a bittersweet ending that left me feeling… complicated.
My only critique would be that the book felt so depressing and hopeless that at times it was very hard to return to the story.
Other than that, the book is a grim cautionary tale about abusive relationships and sexual assault. It was very emotional and well written. I hope that Jonah is able to live happily after the books ends. That is all.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Blood, Dementia, Trafficking, Stalking, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
veggitorian'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment