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campbellclan's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
I read this book because it had so many good reviews. I didn’t really read the synopsis or know what it was about before I started. The pedefilia in the book made me super uncomfortable having kids of my own. The story line of how fucked up kids can become due to their upbringing really affected me. Donal and wavy went through so much traumatic experiences I couldn’t even imagine. I think I did enjoy the book and reading through their stories but had a hard time with wavy/kellen.
I read this book because it had so many good reviews. I didn’t really read the synopsis or know what it was about before I started. The pedefilia in the book made me super uncomfortable having kids of my own. The story line of how fucked up kids can become due to their upbringing really affected me. Donal and wavy went through so much traumatic experiences I couldn’t even imagine. I think I did enjoy the book and reading through their stories but had a hard time with wavy/kellen.
kristinkslp's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Murder
aylaspoon's review against another edition
0.5
I hate that I read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence
hballew22's review
4.0
I want to give this book 5 stars. It’s so well written. The story is gripping. The characters progress so well given the long expanse of time the book covers. It loses a star because of the descriptive scenes between Kellen and Wavy while she was underage. I hate the way that played out in the first part of the book. It was difficult to read and I skimmed much of it. She was a child who had to grow up way too fast. And he was an adult with some mental issues. So while the author does a good job of trying to paint them on the same mental/emotional level. It is still an adult engaging in sexual activity with a minor-which is not ok and was hard to read. So for that, this book lost a star.
The overall story minus the sexual abuse is a 5 star work.
The overall story minus the sexual abuse is a 5 star work.
lbwach12's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
mjrn's review
4.0
Before I read anything, I always scan the reviews. I knew what I was getting into when I picked this up, although I was a bit confused because people were very split on what "counts" as pedophilia, etc. and what exactly happened between Wavy and Kellen.
So, the author took a great deal of time to really set a solid foundation of their relationship, to show that Wavy was "unlike other girls" her age. That experience and tragedy aged her considerably. And also, the author ensured that Wavy had power in their relationship. I think if she had played a more passive role between the two of them, it would have been harder to accept their relationship.
My two cents: it's fiction. In the world of fiction, anything can happen. Children can be as wise as adults. Sure. It was well done in a fictional world, and like I said, despite her being 13 at the beginning of their sexual relationship and him being like 24, there wasn't a power inequality.
Still, the sex scenes were hard to swallow. I mean, she was thirteen, and it's thrown in your face very deliberately all the time. And even if Kellen loved her despite her age, what she looked like, etc., she was still a child. (And most disturbing of all, she continues to look like a child as an adult...so make what you will of that...)
She was very mature for her age and different because of her autism, but the ending was very telling for me on how I felt about their early relationship. In her twenties, in college, she has learned to talk to people, to connect with others, and to live a relatively normal life. But at thirteen, she was still largely non-verbal and struggling to understand the world around her. If in her twenties she was the same, I would say sure, then she was as mature as she would ever become. But the fact that she grew up in Kellen's absence and learned effective techniques to integrate in society means that she was not mature enough to be making those decisions at thirteen, and Kellen needed to be the adult and distance himself.
I gave it 4 stars because it WAS a good read. It was something that really made you think. I did like Kellen a lot. What he did for Wavy when nobody else gave a sh*t was beautiful and kind. But it would have stayed beautiful if he hadn't let her cross a line so young. Wavy's life was heartbreaking and difficult to read about, and she got the happy ending she fought so hard for. It was a beautiful story. It was different. It dealt with a very deep, profound love.
If you do decide to read this, know that there are some very difficult parts to read. But despite it all, it does have a happy ending and it's worth the read.
So, the author took a great deal of time to really set a solid foundation of their relationship, to show that Wavy was "unlike other girls" her age. That experience and tragedy aged her considerably. And also, the author ensured that Wavy had power in their relationship. I think if she had played a more passive role between the two of them, it would have been harder to accept their relationship.
My two cents: it's fiction. In the world of fiction, anything can happen. Children can be as wise as adults. Sure. It was well done in a fictional world, and like I said, despite her being 13 at the beginning of their sexual relationship and him being like 24, there wasn't a power inequality.
Still, the sex scenes were hard to swallow. I mean, she was thirteen, and it's thrown in your face very deliberately all the time. And even if Kellen loved her despite her age, what she looked like, etc., she was still a child. (And most disturbing of all, she continues to look like a child as an adult...so make what you will of that...)
She was very mature for her age and different because of her autism, but the ending was very telling for me on how I felt about their early relationship. In her twenties, in college, she has learned to talk to people, to connect with others, and to live a relatively normal life. But at thirteen, she was still largely non-verbal and struggling to understand the world around her. If in her twenties she was the same, I would say sure, then she was as mature as she would ever become. But the fact that she grew up in Kellen's absence and learned effective techniques to integrate in society means that she was not mature enough to be making those decisions at thirteen, and Kellen needed to be the adult and distance himself.
I gave it 4 stars because it WAS a good read. It was something that really made you think. I did like Kellen a lot. What he did for Wavy when nobody else gave a sh*t was beautiful and kind. But it would have stayed beautiful if he hadn't let her cross a line so young. Wavy's life was heartbreaking and difficult to read about, and she got the happy ending she fought so hard for. It was a beautiful story. It was different. It dealt with a very deep, profound love.
If you do decide to read this, know that there are some very difficult parts to read. But despite it all, it does have a happy ending and it's worth the read.
romeesg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0