noraconradcom'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Abandonment, Rape, Grief, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Incest, Misogyny, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Child death
fifteenthjessica's review against another edition
I found the characters, structure, and prose unpleasant. If you're on the fence, read the first chapter and then decide (based on the 5 stars reviews on Goodreads, there were people who liked the things I disliked). Just be warned that there are scenes of child sexual abuse and some animal deaths. The former provides some character context, but the latter is flat out gratuitous.
The majority of the cast is horrible people who I couldn't find enough redeeming qualities for to keep reading. This is a contemporary romance, yet I find myself wondering why the main character, Elle, is attracted to either of her love interests (her childhood friend Jonas and her husband Peter) and why they are attracted to her. Elle's PoV is one of the most passive-aggressive and bitterly miserable ones I've ever read. Jonas is my personal least favorite. He admits to telling Elle he was over her after introducing her to his now-wife just to hurt her feelings and (WARNING: mention of sexual assault)
Spoiler
then proceeds to finger her while she asks him not to because she's worried their spouses will see them.The book flits between the 24 or so hours after Elle sleeps with Jonas and the childhoods of Elle and her mother. Most of the flashbacks are unpleasant events from both childhoods, and while they certainly explain why these two in particular are so unpleasant (although, honestly, Elle seemed quite unpleasant as a child), half the time they seem irrelevant to the present day events (WARNING: mention of animal death and nudity)
Spoiler
Did we need the scene where Elle and her sister watch their mom's boyfriend flush a baby alligator down a toilet? How about the family friend and his new wife strolling around naked in front of children right after sex?The prose, probably my least favorite part, is a mix of winding, metaphor-laden descriptions and moments that are included to give a sense of realism but that I found uncomfortable. Like yes, an ant would crawl on someone's nipple if that person laid naked somewhere that had ants, but why do the readers need to know that?
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
scottyhollywood'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
4.75
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Incest, and Infidelity
Moderate: Grief
marie_is_reading'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Death, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Grief and Murder
Minor: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Alcohol
aurie1000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Rape
Moderate: Grief, Death, Cancer, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness
sweetchocolatez'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infidelity, Grief, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Incest, Fatphobia, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Misogyny, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Cancer and Chronic illness
Minor: Abortion and Adult/minor relationship
anna_2022'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
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief, Child death, and Death
sydneyreadssometimes_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual content
cupcake77'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
5.0
A novel about family for all it's good and ill. The forks in the road life can force us to take wheather we want it or not.
This book centres around a complex of USA holiday homes made of 'paper' so in a sense this makes good holiday reading but a light hearted beach this is not. Only pack it if you fancy a bit of depth.
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Grief, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Child death, Rape, and Pedophilia
msavy15'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? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Murder