mgann1's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book felt like trauma-porn and a Frankenstein’s monster of genres that went every which way. The main plot ended about 60% through and the rest was just insufferable.
I would have enjoyed this book more if the author had expanded on the relationship between Jonah and Richard for a few more chapters. Building up some sort of emotional connection between the reading and the MC before devolving into the madness and abuse. Instead, the relationship was expedited and shallow, and the abuse began immediately before the MC could really believably become drawn to the abuser. In turn, there was no stakes and instead the reader watched as the MC knowingly put himself in harmful situations.
It easily could have ended after Jonah and Mace escaped and it would have been a satisfying ending to a thriller. Instead, the capture and escape happened within chapters of each other, and then the book continued for another 100 pages of internal dialogue, MORE trauma, and weird church propaganda.
I really wanted to like this book, but between the unlikeable MC and the copious amounts of rape, I really disliked it through and through.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
kaseycanread's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, and Torture
aely's review
- 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
4.0
Parks-Ramage managed to write realistic characters who go through SO much trauma, with a bittersweet ending that left me feeling… complicated.
My only critique would be that the book felt so depressing and hopeless that at times it was very hard to return to the story.
Other than that, the book is a grim cautionary tale about abusive relationships and sexual assault. It was very emotional and well written. I hope that Jonah is able to live happily after the books ends. That is all.
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Classism, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Addiction, Death, Murder, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Stalking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Blood, Trafficking, Dementia, and Abortion
ekeiser8's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Rape, Trafficking, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug abuse
veggitorian's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Sexual violence
roughdraftofmylife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Drug abuse, Trafficking, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Sexual violence, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Suicide attempt
feministmidwife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
freddybingsu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Rape
Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Addiction and Fire/Fire injury
forrestalexander's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't know what to expect and I like the concept, but in my opinion, it didn't follow through.
As someone else said, the book is too short to properly address the multitude of issues it presented.
The book touches on:
- a gay main character with unaccepting parents
- religious trauma
- conversion therapy and the resulting trauma
- domestic abuse, toxic and abusive relationships
- manipulation and general abuse
- rape, sexual assault, and casual sexual harassment
- drug abuse
- suicide, suicidal thoughts
& more. There aren't enough pages in the book to have us become invested in the characters and touch on all of the above topics and do them justice - instead, it half touches on all of them and is just busy and feels cluttered. It is trying to do too much at once.
Because it was trying to cram so much into each page, I wasn't invested in the characters and it made me care less about the story overall.
Also, coming from a queer man living in bushwick from somewhat similar circumstances, I hated the main character. He relied on everyone else and did nothing but pity and feel bad for himself instead of trying to do anything to change his life. He was selfish and self-centered, and how he acted in court destroyed the lives of others to the point of no return. How I am supposed to feel any level of empathy for him, or happiness when he finally sort of gets his shit together at the end, is beyond me.
The religious trauma was a bit trite for a gay character, and I understand the second half was supposed to set it apart from other stories with similar themes - but the second half felt forced, strange, and left me weirded out. I am still not sure what the message was supposed to be, it didn't translate.
With all of that being said, I think if a few of the themes were left out and the author focused on one or two things, it could have been great. For that reason, I have no doubt the author has potential - but I hope in his next book, it feels less crammed.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Body shaming and Bullying
foxmulders'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? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Incest