inirac'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Infidelity
Moderate: Abortion, Suicide, Violence, Alcoholism, Stalking, and Classism
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
xomandymoo'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
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Classism, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Body shaming
megs_readstoomuch'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: Gun violence, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Classism, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Confinement, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Violence, and Mental illness
viwilliams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Rape, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Pregnancy, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Classism, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion
Minor: Incest, Infertility, and Death of parent
daniellenelson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Bullying, Violence, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Death, Chronic illness, Body shaming, Gun violence, Death of parent, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Classism, Terminal illness, Grief, and Gaslighting
annasannotations's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Death, Classism, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Grief
meeklovestoread'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
4.0
I think around page 130-150 is when my intrigue started to grow so when we got Daphne's POV I was a bit taken a back. But I trusted the process and I'm so glad I did because once we got Daphne's chapter I was HOOKED! I was eating this book up and it became soooo good! I loved it! Jackson's ending was a bit anticlimactic for me, but I'm pretty content with everything else. If you don't mind a slow burn type of book then I totally recommend this book. (Very triggering topics though, so please be careful).
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Classism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abortion, Gun violence, and Infertility
nisquah's review against another edition
Spoiler
Incorrect description of ASPD, then the further demonizing of those with ASPD and not just the evil character in the book. This isn't a "callout", it's a more personal thing for me. As someone with ASPD who learned cognitive empathy and has many fulfilling and genuine relationships, I just don't enjoy consuming media that speaks about the disorder in this generalizing and/or inaccurate way. There is always a chance that this is rectified later in the book, of course! But I just don't have the energy for it at the moment. I respect those who do!Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Misogyny, Rape, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Alcohol and Torture
Minor: Death of parent, Abortion, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts
hrmng's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
a lot of reviews mention plot twists, but I only read one (
Spoiler
that daphne finally realized what amber was up to and wanted her to ’steal’ her husbandthe writing is very bland; everything is “She did this. Then, she did that.” with no interesting figurative language. the simplicity makes it easy to speed through the book at least.
the characters are supremely boring, too. it’s crystal clear whom readers are supposed to root for/against and these people have no life outside of being virtuous/villainous and rich/poor.
the pov in part i is exhaustingly bitter and part ii is filled with tactless descriptions of abuse just to have us pity one chara and hate the other even more. this is not a deeply psychological book or character study, it’s emotional manipulation with total caricatures and major, laughable plot conveniences.
Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Chronic illness, Infertility, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Rape, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Body shaming
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Child abuse
Minor: Blood
kimveach'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
2.75
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, and Toxic relationship