Scan barcode
avidreaderandgeekgirl'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
2.25
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, and Abandonment
faerietale_princess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Pregnancy
kyrstin_p1989'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
3.0
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
writtenbydnicole'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, and Alcohol
meredith_williams_'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
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Stalking, and Alcohol
jholt2899's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Mertons are the perfect family; rich, beautiful, and successful. Or at least that's what they seem like. When both their parents are found dead in a murder robbery, the Merton children stand to inherit millions. Catherine, Dan, and Jenna are all suspects, and there is no clear answer as to who did it.
I'm going to need more mysteries like this that spin true crime. I adore this genre and coupled with the family drama, Not a Happy Family is deliciously juicy. The character drive here is what keeps the storyline interesting. I think it's really fun to have an unreliable narrator, and the third person point of view shielded the reader from the characters' inner thoughts which created a more complex narrative.
I only wish that the plotline regarding Rose had turned out to be more dramatic considering how chaotic this family was. Perhaps a crazy meltdown of a fight would have sealed the deal for me. Otherwise, this was wildly entertaining and the ending was perfection, tying the bow on the whole story.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
TW/CW: blood, murder, family drama, explicitly detailed scenes, gore
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Gore, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Vomit, and Medical content