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breaklikeafish's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
I think this might have been the worst book I have ever read. However, I also want to note that reading it was an experiment and an attempt to read outside my comfort zone, so maybe that's not a huge surprise.
The characters were okay, for the most part, excluding all scenes in which the men were seemingly competing for the title of Most Toxically Masculine Alpha Male. Sadly, that was a lot of scenes. There were so many moments where the women had to be saved by some knight in shining armor, and I was decidedly not into it. Just as an example, there was a bit of a rat problem going on in the house, and this was leading man Connor's reaction:
„Lo, Ryke, and I can set rat traps tomorrow.” But I add this just to rile her, “The perks of having three men living under one roof.“
Staying on the topic of being deeply uncomfortable, why is Daisy, a sixteen-year-old, continuously sexualized? I appreciate that everyone in the book seems to realize that teenage Daisy dating a adult man in his early twenties is problematic. However, nobody seems to have a problem with Ryke being interested in her?
„It’s okay to like her.” Hell, I like any guy that makes my sister happy and treats her well. Julian does neither.“
Even ignoring all of that, I did not find Rose and Connor's relationship cute at all. One major conflict is that Rose doesn't want kids, but Connor does, and instead of talking about it and breaking up due to different plans for their respective futures, Connor pressures her until she agrees to have children with him. It would be different if it was Rose's own internal character development. She's in her early twenties, and of course she's allowed to change her mind about things. What bothered me was that Connor never seemed to take her perspective seriously. From their first conversation about it on he seemed absolutely certain that he could change Rose's mind about it. That's not how having children works! You can't change someone else's mind about a topic like that. But Connor seems to have no problem pressuring people into doing what he wants. He also pressures his therapist into prescribing him drugs (what kind of therapist would do something like that?! I get that he pays you, but you're the professional in this context, please act like it) and his girlfriend into having sex with him. Yep. It's like that. I hate Connor.
It is by far not my biggest concern with this novel, but I still was annoyed at the incredibly heteronormative mindset with which it was written. Just as an example, at one point, Rose thinks about how she would be more comfortable having sex with a woman than a man. This thought is not further explored, or even taken as any indication that Rose could identify as anything other than straight. Something similar happens when Daisy explains that she doesn't really enjoy sex, and instead of validating her (very valid!) feelings, Rose says:
“And that’s ridiculous. [...] You can orgasm[.] [...] You just have to find the right person.“
„Oops. Tact. I lose it sometimes. “You’ll find someone,” I tell her, squeezing her shoulder encouragingly. But I think I squeeze a little too hard because she winces. I let go. “…Just keep dating. And when you find a loser, ditch him quickly. Please.“
That is genuinely such terrible advice.
The only positive thing I have to say is that Lily and Lo were actually kind of cute together.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
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