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chandlerwood's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This book, if you can even call it that, is genuinely the worst thing I've ever attempted to read in my entire life. I don't normally review books that I DNF, but I'm doing so for this one for a few reasons:
1. It's almost 600 pages. I read 300 pages, which is an entire book in itself and is more than enough pages to gauge this book's quality, of which there is none.
2. I skimmed the other half of the book semi-thoroughly, so I know it did not improve beyond my stopping point.
3. It really is that bad.
Not only is this book poorly written, poorly structured and boring - it's also offensive in countless ways. The reader is supposed to swoon at Gabriel Emerson, and he is nothing but a disgusting and irredeemable creep throughout the entire story. Paul Norris is no better. Julia is the most mind-numbingly pitiful heroine I've ever had the misfortune to read about, and it doesn't help that the author seems to think the most interesting thing about her is how teeny tiny and fragile she is.
Not a single man in this book calls her by her name. She is either called Little Kitten or Little Rabbit or stubbornly called by names she explicitly asks not to be called (Julianne and Beatrice) and is completely and repeatedly ignored. No one in this book cares about or respects Julia as an independent adult human. Sexual harassment, blatant misogyny and sexual assault all run rampant in this book.
The story is nothing. There is no plot. The romance is abusive and toxic and nonsensical. The only conflict I encountered was my own conflict in wondering why the hell anyone liked this book.
0 stars is too many.
1. It's almost 600 pages. I read 300 pages, which is an entire book in itself and is more than enough pages to gauge this book's quality, of which there is none.
2. I skimmed the other half of the book semi-thoroughly, so I know it did not improve beyond my stopping point.
3. It really is that bad.
Not only is this book poorly written, poorly structured and boring - it's also offensive in countless ways. The reader is supposed to swoon at Gabriel Emerson, and he is nothing but a disgusting and irredeemable creep throughout the entire story. Paul Norris is no better. Julia is the most mind-numbingly pitiful heroine I've ever had the misfortune to read about, and it doesn't help that the author seems to think the most interesting thing about her is how teeny tiny and fragile she is.
Not a single man in this book calls her by her name. She is either called Little Kitten or Little Rabbit or stubbornly called by names she explicitly asks not to be called (Julianne and Beatrice) and is completely and repeatedly ignored. No one in this book cares about or respects Julia as an independent adult human. Sexual harassment, blatant misogyny and sexual assault all run rampant in this book.
The story is nothing. There is no plot. The romance is abusive and toxic and nonsensical. The only conflict I encountered was my own conflict in wondering why the hell anyone liked this book.
0 stars is too many.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Infertility, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail