ank3'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, Rape, Suicide, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Infidelity and Car accident
jhbandcats'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
The main character, Elizabeth, is charismatic and driven, aware of her worth as a chemist but forced on a daily - if not hourly - basis to deal with sexist insults, sexual assaults, and belittling. She’s repeatedly thwarted in her attempts to move ahead in her profession, her research is stolen, and she’s discredited at college and at work.
This book is funny and inspiring but so, so sad; there’s a pall of grief and loss over everything. It’s about two outcasts who find one another, and then the struggle when one is left alone with only a dog for a friend. Nothing is ever easy for Elizabeth, not even when things seem to be going well.
Overall, I loved the book and definitely recommend it. I must be in a melancholy mood myself for it to have struck me so hard.
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
scarlett_f'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
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death, Bullying, Rape, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
Minor: Suicide
akane_shio's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
emmacb'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? It's complicated
4.5
It's relatively light (while dealing with a heavier theme),
Spoiler
and the ending is pretty fluffyGraphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Rape
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry
chocolatechip's review
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
hnagarne's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Spoiler
there’s a rape scene within the first, like, thirty pages, and tbh i should’ve just stopped reading there 🤷🏻♀️maybe i am not the target audience but this book was not good. it was easy to read but it felt like it hit you over the head with the ‘50s & ‘60s sexism and then elizabeth would come in like a white feminist straight off a women’s march or something and like it just wasn’t for me. the science felt off because it felt like the author decided “she’s a chemist” and then decided that meant she could easily learn and apply literally all of the sciences (she learned to row better than the men in one day by reading a physics textbook).
i do not get why the dog knew almost 1,000 words and i do not get why the 4yo was a child prodigy and i do not get why certain plot twists were there.
bright spot: accurate reasons why family tree assignments are terrible. end of list.
also, leash your damn dogs.
Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Suicide, and Death
nightingale25'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit
katarinabee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Rape and Sexism
Minor: Death, Grief, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, and Animal cruelty
vj_thompson's review
- 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
There is a reason this is a five star read. This writing is beautiful, intentional, and meaningful. Each word was written with purpose. Everything in this story; backstory, inner monologue, character, had reason. I LOVED how everything was wrapped up in the end. Of course I cried 😭 Ugh, please read!!
Last thought, Six-thirty is my favorite character. I highlighted so many of his parts. He is a wise dog.
Graphic: Car accident, Misogyny, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Vomit, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, and Child death