umbellule's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Torture, Suicide, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Animal death and Transphobia
there are mentions of sea lions being hunted and killed, but this happens 'offscreen' and is not graphically described. one of the main characters is a butcher, and their work is described, but no animals are killed on the page. there are a couple of brief mentions of 'crossdressers', who are described as men who like to dress as women; they are described without any malice, but are gendered only with he/him, which may sound transphobic depending on one's own cultural context. there are two mentions of sexual encounters involving underage people, which the now-grown people still describe as consensual. this is, however, not glamorised or fetishised. there is a flashback scene involving forced institutionalisation and torture. there are multiple flashbacks involving rape, including underaged rape and marital rape, though these are not graphic.Spoiler
there is a graphic suicide scene, by falling, from the point of view of the one dying.amccarthy'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Homophobia, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Sexism, Infidelity, and Sexual violence
jeanspantalones's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide, Confinement, Antisemitism, Torture, and Grief
The spoilers sound bad, but it is more a commentary on the historical context and setting of the book than the book itself. The author treats most of these scenes with respect, even if they are uncomfortable, nothing is graphic just for the sake of it.kclark's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
The language in the book is SO flowery that it is just exhausting, and I love flowery, poetic prose, but this was too much. It was as if the book was struggling to make itself more impressive but came off like a college student trying to say something profound on every page of the book. An example: "The water surrounded them, each wave sloshing forward with it's own wet, singular song, offering the pull of undertow and a brief respite from gravity." It would be fine, and perhaps effective, if this language was used sparingly, but it was constant. This propensity for the over embellished also has the effect of making the sex scenes seem like they were supposed to be sordid and poetic which made it feel like a cheesy romance.
The characters sometimes felt really well developed and crafted, but then immediately lose track of that character development and slip back into seemingly formulaic character archetypes.
Were I not reading this for a summer book bingo, I might have moved on.
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Death, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
qqjj's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Outing, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical trauma, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Lesbophobia, Death, and Confinement
wilful_wisp'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Confinement
jennikreads's review
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Torture, Homophobia, Police brutality, Rape, Misogyny, Confinement, and Alcohol
brynngaybee's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Homophobia
Minor: Antisemitism, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
imreallyraven's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Torture
molliemoments's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Homophobia, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Confinement, and Genocide