tashaw's review against another edition
1.0
This might literally be the worst book I have ever read.
adanesbit's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
fallonc's review against another edition
4.0
Very cool to see JA’s style here, which is so different from her more recent novels. Though I do prefer her character driven narratives more than this plot driven one, I think Cathrine in this novel is one of my favorite characters JA has conceived.
simplyparticular's review against another edition
3.0
Another book about a damaged woman - the quality of the writing was very good, and the pacing was good, but as a reader it was frustrating to have the "reason" for Catherine's damage withheld until the last. I know it was something the character had to realize for herself, but it created distance between the reader and the character.
survivalisinsufficient's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good vacation read for me - fun characters, quick writing.
camillesarah's review against another edition
5.0
Cried and held this book to my chest when I finished it like it could save me, so I'd say it was a pretty good read.
yeahdeadslow's review against another edition
2.0
You probably shouldn't have clicked view spoilers.
You have been warned.
...Okay. So this started out pretty promising.
Woman seeks independence! She has a tragic past! She's stolen all/most of her husbands money! And now Vegas! A sudden friendship! Beatles impersonators!
Then we start delving in her past:
Penis. Tiny penis. Nubby penis. Penis. Penis. Penis.
I just... what? I... what?
Okay, so all this info was revealed very slowly and in a different order, but I'm just diving right in. Basically the main character never feels anything during sex which makes her husband feel inadequate and even though, yes he has a nub (her word!) it's not his fault. The main character is numb inside because her mother told her a traumatic rape-story repeatedly as a child. (It almost took the entire book, but this lovely little nugget was finally revealed.) Anyway, her husband is obsessed with his not-so-manly piece of manhood so he gets surgery or something. (I just don't even want to go there.) But his wife still doesn't feel anything, blah blah blah. Their relationship falls apart. She moves out and eventually runs away with most of this money. She ends up in Vegas where she makes a friend (to whom she recounts this story) and also has sex with a transgender Prince impersonator who makes her feeeeel. Or something.
I am laughing as I write this. I probably shouldn't be, but nothing about the first 60 or so pages of this story was any indication of how it would end up going.
You have been warned.
...Okay. So this started out pretty promising.
Woman seeks independence! She has a tragic past! She's stolen all/most of her husbands money! And now Vegas! A sudden friendship! Beatles impersonators!
Then we start delving in her past:
Penis. Tiny penis. Nubby penis. Penis. Penis. Penis.
I just... what? I... what?
Okay, so all this info was revealed very slowly and in a different order, but I'm just diving right in. Basically the main character never feels anything during sex which makes her husband feel inadequate and even though, yes he has a nub (her word!) it's not his fault. The main character is numb inside because her mother told her a traumatic rape-story repeatedly as a child. (It almost took the entire book, but this lovely little nugget was finally revealed.) Anyway, her husband is obsessed with his not-so-manly piece of manhood so he gets surgery or something. (I just don't even want to go there.) But his wife still doesn't feel anything, blah blah blah. Their relationship falls apart. She moves out and eventually runs away with most of this money. She ends up in Vegas where she makes a friend (to whom she recounts this story) and also has sex with a transgender Prince impersonator who makes her feeeeel. Or something.
I am laughing as I write this. I probably shouldn't be, but nothing about the first 60 or so pages of this story was any indication of how it would end up going.
sarahjsnider's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know what to make of this. I liked it enough to read it quickly, but it felt like a "how to spot an abuser" manual in places. And the structure, setting Catherine's story up as told to Valka, made me frustrated because I wanted to hear more from Valka.
featherbooks's review
Kirkus says "Iintellilgenlt, moving portrait of a journey to self-awareness, with meaty characters and a refreshing absence of psychobabble."
jodiwilldare's review
4.0
When Catherine Madison falls in love with a boy named Thomas, the love is so complete and all encompassing that when he nicknames her Moonie it sticks so well that everyone takes to calling her Moonie. As is often the case in small midwestern towns, this one located in Nebraska, Moonie and Thomas marry soon after high school. However, the couple doesn’t get the happily ever after teenagers often dream they’ll get. Of course, because if they did why would there be a novel?
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