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smixter88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
aspyfinny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
coffeebookssleep's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
kmdelozier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
minimicropup's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Main POVs:
- A police interview with an overwhelmed social worker trying their best in a job where they are often forced to cut corners and make snap decisions on which families need their attention most
- An orthopedic surgeon eager to become a parent. Has a bit of Saviour complex particularly for children...can their unconditional love and lack of discipline heal a damaged child or are they making it worse by ignoring the reality of the situation?
- A nurse married to the surgeon, also eager to become a parent. Wants to adopt a baby they can raise together and isn't interested in raising an older child that would be dealing with trauma/abandonment issues. Do they have unrealistic, resentment filled expectations of parenthood or are they trying to set realistic boundaries and recognizing their limitations?
Cred Rating ššØāš©āš§: Plausible to realistic. Social workers are overwhelmed, the foster system is broken. Whether innate or caused, little brains aren't always wired right and some kids seem doomed to grow up into inherently dangerous people. But some of those same behaviours can also be little brains just trying to process massive traumas. Reminiscent of the Sabrina Caldwell case https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sabrina-caldwell-adoped-russia-brother-48-hours/
Reading Journey š«„: Visiting someone's house for the first time and it's unexpected chaos - messy, smelly, kids running wild, no one seems to be doing anything about it...eyeing the door the whole time, can't wait to leave.
Good match if you like:
- Dark adoption and parenting dysfunction
- Creepy kid trope that isn't OTT (IRL horror energy with touch of supernatural possession vibes)
- Potentially unreliable narrator (paranoia/psychosis) treated with "pat pat, you're just hysterical honey" spousal support
- Kids behaving badly
- Flexible plot open to reader interpretation
Vibes: š¤¢š”š¤Ŗ
Content Heads-Up: infertility, adoption gone wrong, attachment and personality disorders in children, and death of a pet
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Medical trauma, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Vomit
Animal related content involveschronicallyplotting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a book I will be gladly recommending to others to read but also adding the wordsā¦ ādonāt judge meā after it.
Wow. I am impressed with the suspense and creep factor.
And I am thrilled to have found another author who is using their career to write their novels. Lucinda Berryās novels being blurred lines between fiction and nonfiction based on patients she has potentially studied or had, this makes reading this book even more thrilling. The fact that characters like Janie exist is scary.
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Excrement, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
emmasbookishself'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you enjoy creepy, dark, psychological thrillers this one is for you. I donāt want to give much away, but this is a quick one that will keep you on the edge of your seat. (This was amazing on audio)
Thereās an obvious level of insight and knowledge within this book as the author is also a trauma psychologist, and she was able to use that to really set the emotion and scenes.
I went into this one blind, but would recommend he king TWs before reading as it deals with seriously heavy subject matter.
Hannah and Christopher were ready to start a family of their own, without much luck. They exhausted many resources and are now looking at adoption as an option.
A child severely abused and mistreated has been taken to the hospital that both Hannah and Christopher work at. Christopher is involved with Janie right away as he would be the one performing many of her surgeries to correct and heal prior injuries.
Christopher develops a sense of obligation to protect and look after Janie, and she too is completely smitten with Christopher. With Janieās stay at the hospital nearing its end, Christopher knows Janie will need to be placed in a foster home temporarily. No foster family that has been interviewed seems to be the right fit, so Christopher suggests to Hannah that they temporarily foster her. After all, theyād be one of the most equipped couples to help Janie, both medically and financially.
Fostering Janie has been no easy feat thereās endless battles, from screaming for no reason, reverting back to old habits, and plain cruelty. Despite the challenges they decide to adopt Janie officially. Everything goes as well as expected (meaning every day is still a challenge), until it all takes a very sharp downturn when Hannah gets pregnant and brings baby Cole homeā¦
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
sizzlesteaks's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Medical trauma, and Murder
silverheartbookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Excrement, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy and Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
carissa230'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? No
3.75
Christopher is convinced she is perfect. Hannah is not so sure. Hannah sees a completely different side of Janie. Janie is manipulative and acts out in terrible ways. She is mean to other children, refuses to potty train, and can scream for hours on end.
The family goes to intense counseling to help Janie, but when Hannah gets pregnant things quickly escalate. The family is forced to make unimaginable choices to help the child they've adopted and the child that they've always wanted.
This book had a slow spot in the middle that kind of slowed the story down. When things escalate it goes quick and I couldn't stop turning the pages.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder