tiffanysmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I think it would have benefited the story to truly allow the characters to exist in their space. I kept forgetting that the storyline takes place in the 1950s, only to be reminded by Elizabeth saying something completely absurd. I want to be immersed in the time era and I want characters with complexity, faults, and things that make them grow.
There was very little world-building and I felt a big disconnect with the characters—a beautiful chemist who makes chemistry a successful cooking show, a pre-schooler who acts like a 35 year genius, and the dog POV was a little strange. The nerd stereotype was over utilized and it was challenging to emphasize with the characters.
The love story between them didn’t seem very genuine. They met and they fell in love. It didn’t seem to go much deeper than that.
Also, the religious element threw me off. It was very emphasized, but it didn’t do anything to propel the plot line or character growth. It just felt uncomfortable.
There was some good parts of the book, but I did not laugh at the wittiness and I was unable to relate to the characters.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, Bullying, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Cursing
jaduhluhdabooks'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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Pregnancy, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Car accident, Death, and Death of parent
friendofdorothea'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: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Rape, Police brutality, Misogyny, Car accident, and Grief
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
cheryl_gager's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Eating disorder and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Within the first couple of chapters a sexual assault/attempted rape takes place which is shocking and an attempted rape takes place later on in the book. The book is full of sexism and misogyny as it is looking at a woman in the 1950s and 1960s trying to make it in the field of science, dealing with being an unwed single mother and going against the gender norm for that period of time.vixenreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Car accident, Grief, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Medical content, Mental illness, Police brutality, Abandonment, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Homophobia, and Cursing
Minor: Classism, Vomit, Infidelity, and Abortion
Be aware that there is discussions of marriage outside of wedlock, doubt in religion, bomb threats, and abuse of power in science, education, religious institutions, and television.arrow3002's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Classism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Blood, and Child abuse
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Confinement, and Gun violence
jacs63'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
4.0
An easy read and a page turner. Great story and wonderful characters.
In some ways it was interesting to read about how bad things were for women in the 1950's and 1960's, but really it just reinforced for me that things are still really bad. Things have gotten so bad for women, especially in the US recently. It's just feels like a never ending fight. It's a bit tiring. I even learned a bit of chemistry.
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Rape
jessidbee'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Grief, Bullying, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Death, Suicide, and Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Sexual violence
shelfofunread'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Grief, Death, Car accident, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse