Scan barcode
aargot1's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia
cassielaj'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
Graphic: Animal death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Suicide, Excrement, Death of parent, and Colonisation
annieliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
bobbijopmh'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
“We are not the things that happened to us. We can be what we like.”
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
clarereadstheworld's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Pregnancy
bugthebard'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
2.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racial slurs
arcookson'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
2.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Stalking
Minor: Animal death, Death, and Gun violence
hollyd19'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
2.25
Y’all, I wanted to love this book. It seemed charming and fun and has a totally-up-my-alley premise. But on the whole, I was pretty disappointed.
First of all, this book has a lot more heavy themes than I expected given the synopsis and the various endorsements (words like “charming,” “brilliant,” and “marvelous”). I’ll put some content warnings at the bottom. Secondly, the character development felt spasmodic and inconsistent. Finally, there is a character called Mundic who I felt was an awkward, possibly even offensive, attempt at incorporating post-war PTSD into the narrative. Most of the chapters from his perspective left me unsettled and a little confused.
Admittedly, I liked the second half better than the first. The two women found a bit more of a rhythm and their relationship took on a more believable tenor. That said, I cannot say I found it to be a satisfying to read.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, and Infertility
berodatheelf'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: Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
isis'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
Margery and Enid are both such well-developed characters, both with their own amusing eccentricities. I’m always a fan of The Odd Couple type friendships, and that’s exactly what this is. The impact they made on each other's lives were invaluable, but I especially enjoyed watching Margery become a totally different person by the end of the story.
I felt this story is a perfect blend of character and plot driven with good medium pacing. Rachel Joyce not only had me falling for Margery and Enid, but also for the setting of New Caledonia. She wrote so vividly of the area that I felt as if I had visited the area myself.
I think this is a great choice for anyone who enjoys adventure/explorer stories, unlikely/odd couple friendships, and well-developed characters.
CW: Suicide, miscarriage, POW torture, racial slurs, domestic violence, body shaming,
Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for the review copy
Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage