Reviews

Both Sides of the Fence by M.T. Pope

zamora_love's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kowalski2aa's review against another edition

5.0

Was kind of hesitant starting this book from the beginning because of the summary on the back, but once I noticed it was recommended from Ashley & JaQuavis, I knew it would turn out to be an excellent read. It was definitely entertaining, well written, and easy to binge read (my favorite kind of books!) Love how each chapter goes into each characters point of view. Definitely looking forward to reading the sequel.

booksenvogue's review against another edition

2.0

A colleague recommended this to me, and out of respect for her with the hope to contribute to literary conversation, I finished the book. While I applaud the author for penning this undeniable page turner, it was a traumatic train wreck for me. I noticed a plot hole in the beginning that could have completely changed the story arc. (I.E. The protagonist black mailer addressed the wife by her name when he was pretending to not know her or her husband. This wasn't addressed and made me question if it was a typo or reflection of the characters’ obliviousness.) With the exception of the children, the characters were all immature with no agency. The over the top shock value of sexual violence numbs reader to the suffering of the unlikable characters, and after a while became predictable, grotesque, and unsexy. While the ending is a small ounce of justice it lacked complete justice. More people needed to go to be held accountable for rape, and everyone needed psychiatric help to deal with their hang ups. The moral of the story involves honesty, which I would think should be standard for a married couple, even with one’s unorthodox sexual desires. I mean if you can't be sexually liberated with the person you choose to spend your whole life with then why marry them? You can't let the opinions of others rule or ruin your happiness forever. Perhaps it's a sign of the time this was written that infidelity with a man in lieu of a woman was such a source of a shame that it steered every ill fated decision. I felt the over emphasis that he wasn't cheating “with another woman” as excessive. This book truly thought me the extremes people would go to to hide their sexuality, which is ridiculous in my opinion.

Trigger Warnings: Incest, sexual violence, rape, and internalised homophobia.