lindseylosers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Body horror, Pedophilia, Stalking, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Child death, Suicide, Death, Violence, and Animal death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Bullying, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Outing
nialiversuch'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Mental illness, Animal death, Abandonment, Bullying, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Child death, Murder, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, Drug abuse, and Car accident
saraellenme'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, and Torture
Moderate: Child death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death, and Grief
Minor: Drug use, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Drug abuse, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Gun violence, and Grief
scburhans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
** Spoilers Below **
The biggest thing I had an issue within this book was Ruby's family. It made me really uncomfortable that the first black and gay characters we get in the book are child abusers and murderers. While I don't think the racism and homophobia from this decision was intentional - I think it was in an attempt to introduce a discussion on unconscious biases - but it still did not read well at all. Having the villain of the story fake a disability also made me incredibly uncomfortable as a disabled person. There was a lot of covert, and I hope unintentional, ableism in the story. I did, however, enjoy the rest of the book, so I did decide to give the story 3.5 stars rather than just three.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Murder, Pedophilia, Suicide, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
kathryn_a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Hate crime, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Vomit
outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow! It started off a little slow but once it got going it was a twisty dark tale. Jack is a realistic main character and you get to hear from both her and Flo about their lives in Chapel Croft. Everyone is keeping secrets and there are some shocking revelations as the book unfolds. I worked out the main twist, but there were a couple of others that took me by surprise. Definitely recommended to anyone who likes dark mystery thrillers with a dash of paranormal activity.
CW: mention of suicide, child abuse, bullying, sexual abuse, mention of paedophilia.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Penguin Michael Joseph UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Moderate: Child abuse and Bullying
Minor: Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence