heisiiri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
My main issue was with the characters. Yeah, they're kind of unlikeable on purpose, like they're not supposed to be good people, but sometimes the way they behaved just got on my nerves way too much. I didn't connect with any character in particular - I mostly just felt bad for the main character for having to deal with all these people.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Death
kateea7536's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Medical content, Death of parent, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Blood
bethantg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death and Medical content
zoewood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Child abuse
particledamage's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The book goes at a break neck pace but only because of its short chapters and time jumps, not because anything meaningful actually happens or changes. You see everything coming; it's easy to see that that may be intentional but ultimately that changes nothing, you still want to just skip ahead to have it confirmed. There is little to be lost if your eyes glaze over waiting for confirmation rather than taking in what little story this book has to offer.
That said, this book is oozing with potential. The sisterly relationship--and sometimes lack thereof--is compelling and I would have loved to seen it explored more with two fully realized characters. The idea of them both ultimately being their sister's keeper is interesting but when the story is so rote, you never see the boundaries of that relationship tested in any meaningful way. The high takes of this story and their relationship feels much like jumping out of a third story window except you're wearing a safety harness and a bungee rope, knowing you'll never hit the ground.
I think if this book committed more to being a short story, I could forgive its shallowness and lack of peak a bit more. But instead this book half-commits to being a full story and loses its steam halfway through, overextending itself with details that don't add much to the moral questions its asking (and sometimes answering).
Still, the premise alone is so refreshing and new I can't resent it for not reaching the highs I wanted it to.
Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Classism, Pedophilia, Violence, Medical content, Death, and Death of parent
angievansprang'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Pedophilia
vonni's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Minor: Gore, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, and Trafficking
evelynleigh's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Gore
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Misogyny
therewillbenewsuns'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
this book had me laughing out loud and on the edge of my seat. however, i think Braithwaite tries to pack in some storylines without ever going anywhere with them. i really enjoyed this book, but wanted more follow-through. the characters are awesome, but i think the book could have been longer and more fleshed-out (surprisingly). still highly recommend!
Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, Death, and Murder
Minor: Physical abuse
mooshake'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
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Physical abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship