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aburnss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The book follows a quirky and solitary woman as she starts to grow and transform after years of repetitive monotony. Eleanor's character traits are odd and unexplained but the reader slowly grows to understand them as we (and she) unravel her past.
I was moved while listening to this book. Eleanor's innocently pretentious attitude and general nose-turning to the normal world was funny, and watching her experience one "first" after another was heart warming.
The cast of characters in the novel were so fun, generally normal people but their individual oddities were hilarious from Eleanor's perspective. The themes of loneliness resonated with me. While my life has never been as isolated as Eleanor's, her struggle to find relationships / friendships / community was relatable. I absolutely did not see the twist coming-
The evolution of Eleanor's relationship with Raymond from their first interaction to their last was beautiful and felt realistic. A slow progression into a deep friendship with genuine care for one another.
The audiobook narration was fantastic for the story. The accents for the characters added to their charm and brought the novel to life.
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicide attempt
gzaborski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Child death
jazzreads'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Child abuse
jenwestpfahl'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
4.5
I was rooting for Eleanor despite not really liking her for most of the book. The way she thought every awkward interaction was the other person’s fault when she was the one out of step with social norms was understandable but irritating and yet oddly endearing. And her friendship with Raymond develops perfectly.
I saw the twists coming - one from early on but the other not until a couple chapters before she figures it out - but her realization of them was compelling.
This story was well-written and well-paced and I devoured it in two days.
Graphic: Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Suicide attempt
alexsian29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Child death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape
hnebel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Alcohol, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death
kaelyng's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicide attempt
anjh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
it genuinely is a good book, eleanor is funny and there is a good balance of humour and tenseness/sadness of the book and the story is written well to reflect a character with severe trauma and how she processes this as the story goes along.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Murder, Addiction, Death, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
scarletbirb'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
4.25
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
cellia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape and Fire/Fire injury