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rachel_from_avid_bookshop's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism and Child death
Moderate: Mental illness
kb_sherman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
oceanwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm a sucker for slower-paced, character-driven historical fiction like this. The story mostly centers on Rosalie, Edwin, and Asia. They all have distinct personalities and perspectives that make the story rich from start to finish. The writing is lovely and sad rolled into one. I liked Rosalie the best with Edwin not too far behind. Lincoln is also inserted throughout the story, though it is usually brief. It adds a good build-up to his fate.
I do wish that authors would refrain from inserting modern-day politics at the end of books — especially in fiction which this book ultimately is. I've complained about this in too many book reviews these past two years and I'm weary of it. I'm sure I'm not only speaking for myself when I say that I read to escape current events. Nothing spoils a book I so thoroughly enjoy quicker than a politically charged author's note whether I agree with what's being said or not. I will not deduct a star from this as at least the story itself remained intact, but I can only wish that authors would consider the type of alienation these messages bring on. In my experience, it almost always ends up being hypocritical to the content.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty and Chronic illness
jessgreads'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
4.25
See more reviews at: https://jessgreads.wixsite.com/website
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Abandonment, and Classism
tiasreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
nadia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I went into it with such high hopes, after having uncharacteristically filled out the form to receive an ARC, because I remember enjoying We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves several years ago.
However for a lot of it, I felt it was rather slow and I didn’t get what the point was.
By the end, everything made sense!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Homophobia and Fire/Fire injury
sjanke2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Between my fondness for this literary structure and my obsession with Abe Lincoln (we share a bday), I should have loved this book. My high expectations for this novel dwindled over its ~500 pages as I read repeatedly about the Booth brothers' theatrical success, their drinking, and their silly life-threatening travels. I had to remind myself that this is not a novel about John Wilkes Booth; it's about his family. But his family was melodramatic and frankly put me to sleep on many occasions.
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail