krys_kilz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Misogyny
Minor: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
emily_y's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Physical abuse and Drug abuse
jamiejanae_6'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
3.25
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
ms3333's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Toxic relationship
claire_reardon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Drug use, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death
caitlin_davis22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
tezariah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
chaidoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Let me just say Julie Clark writes side characters SO GOOD. I loved them as much as I loved the main characters. They have layers and layers of personality. I never thought book characters felt real to me, but ever since I read this, I finally thought otherwise! While reading, I loved and grieved and feared with the characters. They felt so real and so relatable, and I love everything about them—all their flaws and not. This books sheds a light to all those who suffered the same things, and having a dive into what life is like for them is very informative, and the fact they continue to fight despite everything is so inspiring.
There were so many times where I wanted to cry (especially the ending!), but I couldn't because I was always reading this in public LMAO.
With all of that out in the way, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU READ THIS BOOK. If you're wondering whether you should or if it's good: it definitely is! Don't postpone this and read it already! A world of adventure and bravery awaits you.
Minor: Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
tspice24's review
- 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? No
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
brenna2themax'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? No
4.25
I really enjoyed this book. Good twists, I liked the characters (especially Liz and Kelly). I really love reading thrillers, but I hate it when they have gratuitous sexual violence from the male.perspective. graphic, dehumanizing, used as a cheap tool to excite the reader. No thanks. As a woman and a Survivor, I just don't want to read that shit. But I do enjoy reading stories about domestic violence and male violence toward women from a woman's perspective. Not dwelling on the gory, graphic details because we get it, most of us have (or still are) loved through it somehow.
Julie Clark walks this line well, explaining the danger, but also understanding that the reader isn't an idiot and likely has their own trauma and has some knowledge on the subject.
Some of what I say next gives away some general themes in the book.
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More specific trigger warning, because I don't want to give to much away but want you to be prepared: domestic violence situation in which we read about a husband working up to an explosion (walking on eggshells stage), but
Spoiler
doesn't physically strike her.Spoiler
There is discussion of a man killing a female partner, but again, we don't read through the scene or get any concrete details.While the book does explore women's experience of violence from men, and not just from male partners, from male
Spoiler
cops/Agents, boyfriends, friends, spouses, fathers, coworkers, and powerful men in male run institutions,I love these kinds of thrillers and really wish they had their own genre, because I am fucking sick to death of the thrillers that dehumanize women, graphically describe violence women endure, and then feed us some bullshit story about how we just have to find the "right" man to help us out. Fuck that noise. I want a realistic thriller from a woman's perspective. This is one of those books.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Stalking, Drug use, Confinement, and Physical abuse
Minor: Car accident, Death, Bullying, Child death, Outing, and Murder