treenakar'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Rape, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
alishamegan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
if masses of people misinterpret your book for exactly the opposite message of what you as the author intended maybe it is not a good enough book to convey that message?
if society has not reached that level of collective consciousness where they would read lolita and automatically condemn the abuser and rally around the victim-survivor then maybe it needs to be more EXPLICITLY anti-CSA and supportive of the victim?
THIS book is that. By being from the perspective of the girl child (and later woman) and her being a complicated, 'imperfect' (whatever that and whatever 'perfect' is meant to be) victim-survivor it gives a real, grounded narrative and experience.
I felt sick reading this but I could not stop reading it constantly. It also made me angry.
Spoiler
I wanted the man to die and he did so that felt good.men are so $%^$%&$^*"^%^$%^5 URGH like FUCK OFF YOU CREEP
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
kayfenn6's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Cursing, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Child abuse
miiareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Mental illness
rebekka'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Gaslighting, Drug use, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Misogyny, Vomit, Mental illness, Grief, Death, and Cursing
viv_04'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
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, and Pedophilia
trishnasaha's review
- 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: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Grief
loustat__'s review
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
butlerebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I’ve picked this up and put it down many times over the past three years and I’m so glad I finished it
Such a nuanced and brutal and compassionately written depiction of abuse — the author did an excellent job of writing Vanessa’s inner monologue in a way that communicated both the reality and the distorted reality you believe when you’re traumatized
and such stunning prose throughout — like had to pause the audiobook and sit with descriptions
Also shoutout to Meryl Streep’s daughter on the narration, great job queen
P.S. the best part was when she got mad at him for not listening to Fiona Apple
P.P.S. I read somewhere that this book is what A Little Life thinks it is and like… a little true
Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Stalking
odiestar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Rape, and Gaslighting