faithlipka's review against another edition
4.5
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Injury/injury detail, and Child abuse
hannibanani29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Deportation, Car accident, Injury/injury detail, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism
Minor: Drug use, Fatphobia, Murder, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Vomit, Violence, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, and Grief
onestepforward's review against another edition
What bothers me about this book is the way Vanessa discusses her mother and sisters as well as the effects of addiction and familial trauma.
Spoiler
In cases of familial abuse and abandonment, no one is obligated to forgive nor to let those people be part of your life. I fully support Vanessa not wanting to have any sort of relationship with her sisters. However, Vanessa would always talk about how she and Suzy grew up under the "same conditions" and how Suzy had *decided* to be the way that she is. Yes, Suzy most definitely decided to bully Vanessa when they lived together. When Vanessa caught her rummaging for money, she decided to hit Vanessa with that car and leave her there, probably hoping she'd killed her. Vanessa *should not* associate with Suzy unless absolutely necessary. Still, like her, Suzy grew up with an absent mother, most likely never knowing her father, and, unfortunately, with easy access to drugs and alcohol. Vanessa says herself that she knows Suzy is mentally ill. Therefore, it was not Suzy's *choice* to feel abandoned by her mother. She did not choose to be born into this family, just as Vanessa did not choose it. That in no way excuses Suzy's actions, but it does mean that Van shouldn't minimize the trauma all her siblings felt because of their family situation.Vanessa is a more emotionally stable person who thankfully did not develop any substance addiction. In the same sense that Aiden doesn't talk to his parents, Vanessa has no obligation to ever talk to her sisters or even her mother, but I can't ignore how Mariana Zapata seemed to dismiss the effects of addiction and abandonment in the sisters' lives as well. Two people who experience the same abandonment, the same trauma at the hand of the same person, will not be affected the same way.
Moderate: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Car accident, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Addiction and Panic attacks/disorders
juju_nani's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
Minor: Addiction
ruby85's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
edilyaaang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Cursing, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Addiction, and Bullying
devynhinds'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Bullying, Body shaming, Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
haleyatucker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
m00dr3ader'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Car accident
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Cursing, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Addiction and Toxic relationship
louisa_pennyfeather2021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
In all seriousness, it's a great book. I started reading it because of my love for football and Mariana's work. I love how(like in so much of Mariana's work) each character has depth and purpose. The real world details factored into this fictional romance adds some flare. I really enjoyed this read.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content