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aciarlo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I knew the ending was going to be tragic based on the warning from the very beginning of the story, but I didn't know what to expect! It kept me on the edge and I really like the social justice issues as a major theme. Overall, an excellent read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Classism
cassielaj's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing in this book is stunning and compelling, but the subject matter is really difficult to read sometimes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
snslayer's review
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A short book but a long read. I did not like this book but I can't help feeling it might have been a good book nonetheless. The tension is built so well it threatens to suffocate and I had to put the book down frequently because it made me so miserable to read it. I thought it was bad in the first half of the book but it only got worse in the latter half, forced into the perspective of a racist pedophile.
This book was well-crafted but I couldn't in good conscience recommend that anyone read it. It felt a lot like misery porn with no point. I'm sure there's an audience for that, or someone who needs to read this story to learn empathy, but that someone isn't me.
ETA: I live in a community in North Carolina, likely the type on which the community of this novel is loosely based, and I am just trying desperately to figure out who in the hell has ever found a person charming or attractive because they do their own commercials? Every single "small business" commercial starring the owner is terrible and offputting and I don't know anyone who feels anything for that owner except secondhand embarrassment. This is obviously very minor and totally beside the point but I cannot stop thinking about it.
This book was well-crafted but I couldn't in good conscience recommend that anyone read it. It felt a lot like misery porn with no point. I'm sure there's an audience for that, or someone who needs to read this story to learn empathy, but that someone isn't me.
ETA: I live in a community in North Carolina, likely the type on which the community of this novel is loosely based, and I am just trying desperately to figure out who in the hell has ever found a person charming or attractive because they do their own commercials? Every single "small business" commercial starring the owner is terrible and offputting and I don't know anyone who feels anything for that owner except secondhand embarrassment. This is obviously very minor and totally beside the point but I cannot stop thinking about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Gun violence
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