The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kimveach's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Physical abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Racism, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual content
gracescanlon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I found Isobel’s descriptions of her experiences with her own synesthesia quite believable. I haven’t had such vibrant experiences myself since I was a girl, but I remember them, and still have smaller, less dramatic ones. Whether Ms. Albanese has synesthesia or not, I found her portrayals of it, especially how it touches every part of life, to ring true. Well done!
This would have been a five-star read, but I felt that the story was rushed in some places. That rush led to a lack of development and depth in characters and their relationships with one another. I think if more time had been devoted to building and expanding upon these, it would've enriched the novel - and earned five stars from me.
Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Death, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Colonisation, Miscarriage, Addiction, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Sexism, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Ableism, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Child death, Excrement, and Suicidal thoughts
laurenlee2158's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Grief, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Suicide, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Miscarriage, Abortion, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Sexual assault, Ableism, and Sexual content
spineofthesaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Alcoholism, Child death, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs, Abandonment, Death of parent, Confinement, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Abortion, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Slavery, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Incest, Vomit, Gun violence, and Excrement
rachelwhicker06's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abortion and Forced institutionalization
haley49's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Racism, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Addiction, Slavery, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Death, Abortion, Rape, and Death of parent
oceanwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Isobel and her husband, Edward, immigrate from Scotland to Salem, Massachusetts sometime in the early 1800s. They aren't together here long as Edward soon joins a ship crew and leaves Isobel behind to fend for herself. She's not without a trade, fortunately, and is a talented seamstress. But are her talents the result of something that could ultimately put her life in danger?
While Edward is away, Isobel forges a friendship with none other than Nathaniel Hawthorne. Both of them are haunted by their pasts and lineage. This common bond draws them to one another.
I enjoyed this a lot, though I could be biased as I can consider it a local story. I do think I would have gotten a lot more out of the story if I had first read The Scarlet Letter. One thing I still can't figure out is the significance of the italicized sections of the book. I understand the connection between the characters portrayed here and the protagonists, but they fizzle out toward the end. I personally found it more confusing than an aid in the progression of the story.
This is the first time I've read a book that involves a character with synesthesia. So fascinating. It added a lot to Isobel's character and made the story richer. The descriptions were fantastic.
Graphic: Slavery, Addiction, and Infidelity
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Bullying, and Abortion
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Addiction, Infidelity, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape
erynlasbelin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Slavery
Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Religious bigotry, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness
rhbufton'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Slavery, Racism, Xenophobia, Infidelity, Sexism, and Colonisation
Minor: Torture, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Child abuse, and Drug abuse