eule'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
So much (!!!) emotional trauma in one book. Please check the trigger warnings, it gets pretty graphic.
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Incest, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, and Grief
isabezza's review against another edition
3.75
Knowledge can be power, but it can also be poison.
There is no such thing as unforgivable between people who love each other. But even as I'm thinking it, I know it's not really true.
Although the ending of this book was a little underwhelming, this captures the nature of this book, demonstrating that whatever we do (or do not do), life continues. Set in a cycle of summers and the Paper Palace, we follow our protagonist as she describes her family, their flaws and losses; as she reflects on her traumatic past.
I wonder if he would love me if he could see inside my head - the pettiness, the dirty linen of my thoughts, the terrible things I have done.
I did not find this book as gripping, powerful, or 'lifechanging' as I had hoped, but would recommend to someone who enjoys a similar writing style.
The passage of time bought only a messy tangle of branches, marking my failure to heal.
Graphic: Rape, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Child death
Moderate: Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Suicide, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
amberday27'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? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Death, Grief, Rape, Cancer, Child abuse, Incest, and Sexual assault
scewart's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Stalking, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death, Incest, Cancer, and Grief
lbh_0327'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
2.5
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Death, Sexual content, Incest, and Sexual violence
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, Vomit, Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug use, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
dreadpiraterudis's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, and Sexual assault
marlee_grace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If it wasn't for the shameless book club, this would have been a DNF.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Cancer, Child death, Drug use, Rape, Grief, Infidelity, Infertility, and Death
shofoho'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
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Miscarriage
joey1914's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Rape, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Infertility, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, and Adult/minor relationship
noraconradcom'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Abandonment, Rape, Grief, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Incest, Misogyny, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Child death