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amandaantonitti's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
gabriella_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
hannah_beth_charles's review against another edition
- 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: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Infertility, Pedophilia, and Kidnapping
milele23'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
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Incest, Physical abuse, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Murder, and Deportation
Minor: Chronic illness, Infertility, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and Abandonment
lucyjxwkes'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Medical content, Trafficking, and Murder
sadiaa's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
yannea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a story that deserves 5 stars but it took me three months to actually finish the book. It's a heavy and painful read but it shouldn't come as a surprise when the cover has words like "devastating" and "haunting" written on it.
There were three things that pulled the rating down for me. First of all, I couldn't understand why the main character had to a writer. It depicted a very naive American dream because a 22-years-old immediately getting a book deal that pays all of his bills sounds too far-fetched. Maybe I missed something but I just couldn't see how it played any part in the plot.
Secondly, the "face" of the evil was a blonde, blue-eyed sociopath who worshipped Hitler and wore dark round sunglasses like John Lennon. His description made him a cliché cardboard character. Him being born a sociopath felt such a simple explanation of why someone would support Taliban. It's like someone told you to draw a human shaped monster and this is what you draw. It would be much harder to explain why normal common people do evil things. And normal common people have done a great deal of horrible things.
Lastly, it's written in first person with main character that is not very likeable so sitting so many hours with his regret and insecurity is very difficult. It's a spiral - you think something is bad and then takes place something that is worse. And then it keeps getting worse.
Also if you are triggered by child abuse and explicit violence, then stay away from this book.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
slayalicious'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mitchell_1'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
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Classism
greatexpectations77'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Rape, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Torture, and Antisemitism