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kittencardigan's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Chockful of interesting characters that left me wishing entire novel focused on flushing out two or three of the characters. Otherwise, beautifully and wistfully written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual violence
bowtiesandbookmarks's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
ukponge's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
lauren_werts's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
2.0
Maybe I was not in the right headspace for this…or maybe this book isn’t for me, but I did not enjoy this book. I only finished it because I purchased it full price.
I was interested in this because I saw a review that said it switched from solo to group perspectives to tell an interesting story. And while it does shift perspectives it did not seem to be in a worthwhile way. Like the last chapter is from a completely new perspective and gave me zero closure for the other characters I was invested in.
I also think to call this a novel is a stretch. It’s more like a collection of short stories that just happen to involve related people and happen somewhat chronologically. But there’s no build up to something bigger, no reason to hear snippets of different perspectives.
I also felt the author was trying to hard to make a statement on too many different topics so instead of leaving me thinking about one topic I just felt like he was as pretentious and performative as the poets in Seamus’s workshop that he was criticizing.
I was interested in this because I saw a review that said it switched from solo to group perspectives to tell an interesting story. And while it does shift perspectives it did not seem to be in a worthwhile way. Like the last chapter is from a completely new perspective and gave me zero closure for the other characters I was invested in.
I also think to call this a novel is a stretch. It’s more like a collection of short stories that just happen to involve related people and happen somewhat chronologically. But there’s no build up to something bigger, no reason to hear snippets of different perspectives.
I also felt the author was trying to hard to make a statement on too many different topics so instead of leaving me thinking about one topic I just felt like he was as pretentious and performative as the poets in Seamus’s workshop that he was criticizing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape
btcarolus's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault