kayleejanes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Grief
lady_sharp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicide, Medical trauma, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism
serenity_by_jan'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
2.75
The use of tropes and typecasts severely dim the ingenuity of the book. Most of the plot points can be seen from miles away, but they are still entertaining to see unfurl. Though this book touches on topics such as sexual assault, discrimination, and grief, it reads more like a fluffy beach read than an impactful piece.
Spoiler
The protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, has a genius child and an equally genius dog (the latter of which has many needless monologues of his own). Though this book lacks suspense, it does not bore. Instead, as the reader can already predict the main plot points, the book fills in the threads that lead from one event to the next.Furthermore, most of the male characters are painstakingly one-dimensional: Lazy, stupid, sexist. We are meant to be fond of Calvin Evans, Zott's partner, though the author's means of provoking this from the reader is by making him the only developed male character. This is a pitiful and cheap way to write, and probably the most disappointing theme in the book.
Finally, although this book is ostensibly feminist, the main plot diverges considerably from its empowering tone and settles resolutely in disappointing territory.
Spoiler
At last, in the final chapters of the book, the protagonist, Zott, gets her job back . . . due to her relations with a man. The whole ending to the story revolved around her late partner, Calvin Evans; though his life could have made a good story in and of itself, I read this book to see what happens to Zott, not to her partner. It seems as though the author drags you around, getting you attached to Zott, only to reveal that it was Evans' story all along. Disappointing to say the least, though it didn't completely ruin the book.Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide, Slavery, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
kotashomelibrary'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racism, Car accident, and Suicide
beccareadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death, Racism, Pregnancy, Rape, Death of parent, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Cursing, and Car accident
theabee'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Racism
goldyyy'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicide
Minor: Racism, Death of parent, Car accident, Outing, and Child death
annoyedhumanoid's review
- 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
*except, to be honest, Walter Pine. i don't see how he was much better than the villainous men before him (Donatti and Lebensmal); maybe he was "just following orders", but as if that makes up for it. he's a devoted father, but what kind of daughter's role model is complicit in the mistreatment of women under his own purview? but of course he's ultimately
Spoiler
rewarded with a promotion—which i don't fault the writing for, it's prob the most realistic course of events unfortunately—but less believably, becomes bffs with Elizabeth at the drop of a hatGraphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Blood, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Miscarriage, Cursing, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Vomit, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Classism, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Abortion, Child abuse, Body shaming, Child death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Racism
thebookpaiges's review
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Classism, Car accident, Suicide, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Cursing, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Racial slurs
Minor: Abortion, Eating disorder, and Murder
lifewithjoce'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Suicide, and Rape
Moderate: Vomit, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Racism