The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
anntharai's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
2.0
I hated this book, but not necaserily because its BAD just....ughhh.
It starts with the MC losing interest in a sexual encounter during the act but not feeling like she can really extract herself from it and disassociates so hard she doesn't notice the half drunk chef choking her so hard she fucking passes out and wakes up to him panicking and thinking he's killed her. (in spoiler quotes not because it's a spoiler, it's literally the first thing that happens, but because of triggering content) then it's basically just a depressing spiral about how shit the world is and how terrible people are to each other. I kept waiting for it to turn in to something interesting but hey look it's just more people lying and cheating and being fucking weird about it. The stuff she talks about isn't WRONG it's just depressing: yes the wage gap is fucked up and very much still alive, yes men in alleyways at night are terrifying, no it's not *all men* but its enough of them to warrant *all men until proven not a r@pist*, yes emotionally abusive people are shit.
Like I said. Not wrong. Just. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
AND THEN AT THE END OF IT when she's finally supposed to have realised something, she most likely sets her own ass on fire again.
Or at least the dangling ending makes you question if she does, and honestly considering the whole theme of this book seems to be *people are, by and large, maliciously deceptive arseholes who never change their shitty behavior* imma guess she does the thing.
But if slice of life relationship drama with constant reminders that women are systemically fucked, blamed for the crimes committed against them, and the we all desperately need to find a #Good Man and Be Happy# then yeah. It sure is that.
It starts with the MC losing interest in a sexual encounter during the act but not feeling like she can really extract herself from it and disassociates so hard she doesn't notice
Like I said. Not wrong. Just. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
AND THEN AT THE END OF IT when she's finally supposed to have realised something, she most likely sets her own ass on fire again.
Or at least the dangling ending makes you question if she does, and honestly considering the whole theme of this book seems to be *people are, by and large, maliciously deceptive arseholes who never change their shitty behavior* imma guess she does the thing.
But if slice of life relationship drama with constant reminders that women are systemically fucked, blamed for the crimes committed against them, and the we all desperately need to find a #Good Man and Be Happy# then yeah. It sure is that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Car accident, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Sexual violence
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