karanextweek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Pretty much every type of SA/r*pe is covered in this book. It was a lot. I hated it. Am I mad I read it? Kinda. But I don’t regret it. Maybe I do.
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Murder, Blood, Misogyny, Addiction, Rape, Body horror, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Child death, Pregnancy, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Death, Pedophilia, and Self harm
lilysaddler'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
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Cursing, Murder, Miscarriage, Injury/injury detail, Dementia, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Gore, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Infertility, Rape, Pedophilia, Abortion, Alcohol, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Car accident, and Kidnapping
lovelymisanthrope'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
4.0
"Animal" follows a young woman named Joan. Joan lost her parents when she was very young, and consequently grew up too fast and without too much adult intervention. She learned from a very young age that she could get men to do things for her and pay her way through life. One of these men ended up falling completely in love with her and is so distraught when she breaks it off, that he kills himself in front of her and her new date. Joan moves across the country to LA to start new with no money and no prospects, but she tries to continue her ways to get by, by using men.
Joan is definitely the epitome of a morally gray character. She clearly uses men to get what she wants, but she often targets men who "deserve" it in her eyes. She grew up without parents and had to learn how to get by on her own, and when she discovered that men would do anything for her, it was too intoxicating of a trick to let go of. Yes, most of the men were married and well off, but it takes two to cheat, so is Joan the sole villain? She is manipulative, often cruel, and seems to know what she is doing is wrong, but she does not know how to do anything else. You kind of root for her, but also hope she can turn things around. She is a highly unlikeable character, but you still want her to succeed. It is Joan's complexities that make her so captivating to read about.
I was impressed by this book, and I will definitely keep Lisa Taddeo on my radar in the future.
Graphic: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Death, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
emmague89'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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Vomit, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical content, Injury/injury detail, Infidelity, Infertility, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Cursing, Classism, and Child death
missbrookss'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
2.0
Graphic: Abortion, Biphobia, Racism, Rape, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
christalla'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
szpetot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Rape, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Abortion, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Infidelity, Infertility, Racism, and Pedophilia
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Miscarriage, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Infertility, Abandonment, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pregnancy, Stalking, Child abuse, and Chronic illness
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, and Vomit
hellowildflower'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
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Pregnancy, Murder, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Drug use, Dementia, Death of parent, Death, and Child death
angebrown'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
0.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug use, Car accident, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Infidelity, and Gore