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imds's review
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
herperfume's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
oceanelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
darumachan'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
3.75
I was initially captivated by the mystery of the haunting at the core of the novel, but that was also where I was most frustrated. I don't mind an ambiguous ending that leaves you pondering, but I realize here that I do take issue with patterns or "clues" that are either abandoned or that are later contradicted for no reason, pointing the reader to a ridiculously broad conclusion that the problem is men and marriage in general, rather than following through on the more subtle relationships between heteronormative marriage and homophobia, misogyny, medical gaslighting, mental illness, gun violence, and family cultures founded on authoritarianism.
I also am dissatisfied with how the MC was developed. I'm fine with an unlikeable MC, but here she seemed to be a faded copy of her elder sisters rather than her own person, even though she was the one who survived to tell her story. She doesn't want to be compared to men, but she has no problem taking advantage of her romantic partner to do the emotional and intellectual labor expected of women married to "genius" male artists, for example. This is especially problematic given that this is a mixed-race partnership. The MC's sexuality was also handled rather clumsily and her attraction to women seemed tacked on to an otherwise asexual character.
Graphic: Confinement, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, and War
jillaay_h's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
kell_xavi's review
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Gun violence
town_scar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, Vomit, Police brutality, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
rachaelwho'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
Extremely skilled voice acting by the narrator.
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
ktrain3900's review
- 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
4.25
Minor: Death, Self harm, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
sophmcgraw'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt