Scan barcode
nindie'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Vomit
selenatothemax'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia
glutenfreemaggie'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
drunk_cowgirl'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I honestly didn't love this book when i started it. I almost dnf'd it so many times. But i'm really glad i didn't, because it definitely got way better. At first, the narrator just comes off so jealous and bitter that her sister is hotter and cooler than her and how swooned after she is. She's extremely bitter about how she's had to look after her sister her whole life because she's older and clean up her messes and lives in the shadows of her younger, more conventionally attractive sister. I don't have siblings, i'm an only child, so i didn't relate to this at all and it just came off super miserable and lame how much time she spent complaining about her sister. I also just don't understand or relate to the ugly duckling trope. because of this, i wanted to put it down so bad. i was like, "damn, so your sister is hot and cool and killing wack ass abusive ass men and you're hating on her for it? that's so lame! if you're so mad about it, then just stop helping her??"
HOWEVER, i'm REALLY glad i kept reading this book, because the more the plot unfolds, you can actually see how the serial killer sister is actually a horrible person and a liar and manipulator. I was rooting for her in the beginning and then as the story went on, I definitely was not. It picked up a lot the second half of the book and i was pleasantly surprised!
this book definitely critiques family roles and sibling relationships. which wasn't something i related to but by the end of the book i definitely appreciated the insight and perspective as someone who is an only child.
I really enjoyed how this novel critiqued beauty standards and how people who are more conventionally attractive get away with a lot more. there's a quote i really liked in the book where the author says "people always conflate beauty with goodness."
i also found it interesting how we learn more about the two sisters childhood with their abusive father and emotionally neglectful mother. we get to see how both of their lives took two completely different routes due to the differences in their age even though they experienced the same trauma.
but my absolute favorite part of this book was how it was written. a lot of the chapters are simply a page or two long and they are literally poetry. i've never read a novel written like this before. as a poet myself, this was super refreshing and beautifully executed. I found myself yearning for more books written in this style.
the only reason i'm not giving it 5 stars is because it starts off kind of slow and was hard to get into and because i felt like the end didn't really have a solid conclusion. i felt like i wanted more from the ending. i'm not gonna spoil the ending but you'll see what i mean. it just kinda ended with no solid character development from anyone in the story.
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia
magiccheesecube's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A perfect book for people who need a quick Book to read to get them out of a reading slump.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Medical content
allya2259's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
eddiesourboy'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Slavery
tatjanasbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Murder
thatenbyisisreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
particledamage's review against another edition
- 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: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death, Pedophilia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Classism