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hjb_128'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? It's complicated
2.25
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Racism
spectacles_and_books'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
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Sexual content, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
banksonman'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? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Car accident
Minor: Torture
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
taylormadespines's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
ejoymiller11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
1. This story (in my opinion) was told backwards, and would last the test of time better had it been told the other way around. Being about time travel, the story bounces around quite a bit. However, I would argue the story more closely follows Clare’s linear timeline. Before we actually get to know the two main characters as a couple, the first half of the book is about how Clare knew Henry as a child and teenager. We learn about Henry’s lustful thoughts about her even when she is underage, even when she is prepubescent, which made me very uncomfortable. In my opinion, had we learned about their adult relationship first by strictly following Henry’s timeline, and had Henry just straight up not had inappropriate thoughts about a CHILD, I think the relationship would seem less creepy (but let’s be honest, some of what happened would be creepy, inappropriate, and sick regardless).
2. About 200 pages of the 536 pages I read weren’t relevant. I don’t understand why certain scenes were necessary as they didn’t contribute to the plot, character development, or context of the story. The whole infidelity thing? For what.
3. INCONSISTENCIES. And inaccuracies. Some of this book just straight up didn’t make sense. I found myself wondering SO many times, “did the author do literally ANY research??” Yes, probably with certain art pieces and music mentioned in the story, but certainly not how pregnancy, miscarriage, birth, hypothermia, and other medical things work. Furthermore, so many times the book would mention something like “they decided to leave the kids at home!” And on the next page, “the kids were playing quietly in the corner.” Like did no one proofread this? I’m lost.
4. Sometimes it was really hard to understand who was speaking. The book bounces between Henry’s and Clare’s perspectives, but in sections of the dialogue there are long stretches with no indication of who is speaking. Several times I had to go back and reread to understand the context of what was happening and what the characters were feeling.
I felt like this was a great concept that was so poorly executed. This could be a fantastic, timeless love story, but it just fell flat for me. The writing combined with the characters who weren’t just flawed, but horrible people, ruined it for me.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Car accident
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
delvie'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? No
4.0
If not for some unfortunate stereotypes and slurs used and the gratuitous sex, it would have been a slam dunk five stars- the audiobook specifically. I think I would have hated this book in print.
Check TW's; I would not recommend this book if you use reading to escape.
The last 40 minutes hit so hard, I had to take my headphones out because I was on the threshold of tears.
I get why it's been adapted twice; I imagine you could do some pretty cool stuff via film with this premise.
I'm not gonna get over this for a while. Sheesh.
Graphic: Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, and Abortion
mireyadiaz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, and Classism
anne152'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
2.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
ravensalwaysreading'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? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail