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holly_keimig's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse
cecilielaugesen'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
However this book did not need to be that long, a lot of the book was name-dropping in relation to food, clothes, jewelry and cars. It felt unnecessary.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Stalking
cnjg88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The format was also fun. Kwan rotates the conversation medium in addition to the POV in a way that I personally enjoy. It's like if the emails, texts, and news bits from 50 Shades was done well.
That said, there were some topics that I think could have been handled better. I'm not Jewish, so I don't know if the use of the term "Nazi" being used to describe loyal employees is okay when a character you are meant to loathe uses it. I am autistic though, so I do feel comfortable saying that I wish the conversation about r-slur babies had either gone differently or if other characters that we are supposed to like had one discussing eugenics and ableism. I think that the author's goal was to make them seem out of touch and shitty, similar to how he uses classism and racism, but I think it could have been executed better. The were also some casually ableist comments from the MCs about schizophrenia and OCD that felt weird.
All in all, 3 out of 5. It's overall a good book, political/social commentary is almost always my jam, the format was very unique in the best possible way. My main issues were pacing and some questionable handling of sensitive topics
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical trauma, Murder, and Pregnancy
noeandnovels'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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Car accident
adrienne_rennie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
sop17hie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Kidnapping
Minor: Murder
laurajordensharris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
laurajeangrace'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
3.75
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity
uranaishi'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
pachelrooley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The descriptions of opulence can be fun but take up too much space that could have been spent on the climaxes of the plot - which seemed to be completely rushed at the end, which was a shame.
All that said, I read it in about 24 hours, so evidently the author is doing something right!
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Violence, and Xenophobia