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readbycarina'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
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Vomit
astoriareader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- On the first page, we are told a man killed himself in front of Joan. This sends Joan to flee across the country to LA. She is in search of a yoga instructor named Alice, but we have no idea why. We do know that her parents are no longer alive, and nothing seems to be keeping her in New York City.
- She moves into a compound, where several other people live. Her landlord is a strange older man.
- Joan vaguely refers to some trauma that happened when she was a child.
- There are lots of questions. Who is Alice? What happened to her parents? What trauma did Joan experience? Who is Joan narrating the story to? What is up with the landlord? Why did the man kill himself in front of her?
- This book is very dark & uses vulgar language in different parts. If you have any triggers, it is worth it to check out content warnings.
- The execution of this novel is impressive. It’s like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. Taddeo gives vivid, unsparing descriptions, and I can see this being divisive among readers. This will be either a book you love or a book you hate. I don’t see it falling in the middle.
- Although some parts are hard to read, I found myself unable to put down.
- Joan tells us the story, and despite being unlikable, she’s actually a fascinating character. Taddeo deftly makes it so you understand the character, even when you don’t like her. I found myself rooting for her, which I can’t say I have ever done for a main character that I didn’t like. Joan is complex & layered. She’s both a victim and a villain.
- We get a lot of flashbacks & insight into Joan’s past. Taddeo skillfully plots the book & intertwines stories from the past. There are deep wounds in her childhood. The family dynamics are extremely interesting. With the flashbacks, I felt for Joan, and I saw at her core that she was a little girl that only even wanted love (particularly her mother’s). The book looks at how our childhoods shape us & intergenerational trauma as well.
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
ashpociadlo'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
elysiamann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
katienunnery'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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
matigiuro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
lenka_lenka'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? No
3.25
It doesn’t have much plot, more stream of consciousness as we follow the main character.
Joan is not a likable character but definitely is the star of her own life. She reminds me of Esther from The Bell Jar or the main character of A Year Of Rest And Relaxation.
Her complicated and layered past relationship cast a shadow on all other connections with other people.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
lovelylilelle'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: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
lisa00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
lily_kruse'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment