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miss_shell512's review against another edition
2.0
Turning grooming into a love story is definitely a choice.
scaleraa's review against another edition
4.0
This book is not for everyone. There will definitely be people who read the beginning of this book and are so uncomfortable with the age difference of the characters that they quit. And I get that - I thought about it too, but the second half of the book just makes it so worth it. This is the story of Wavy, a girl raised by a father who is a drug dealer and a mom who has undiagnosed mental illness. She finds support from her father's mechanic, Kellen, and the two eventually fall in love (although there is about a 12 year age gap). They are each other's only support system, but the rest of the world doesn't see it that way and tries to take it away from them. This book was engaging, heartbreaking, and really makes you question what you thought you knew.
peachxslime's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Eating disorder
tmunro's review against another edition
3.0
My first book finished for Contemporary-A-Thon 2018!
TW for child abuse, domestic abuse, drugs, sexual assault of a minor, pedophilia, murder.
This book is as dark as everyone told me it is. I’m waging an interior war with myself because I can’t decide whether I really liked the book or really hated it.
I liked the book because I do enjoy controversial topics. But THESE topics were almost too much for me. In a way, I feel like books like this teach me about the darker parts of humanity that most would rather stay ignorant to. The book had me so entranced by the topics it covered that I couldn’t stop reading. The writing style with multiple perspectives had me travelling on a crazy emotional roller coaster, because on one hand I’m like “aww Wavy and Kellen” and then on the other I’m like “what the fuck Wavy and Kellen.” The writing was well done. I felt like each and every character was so vivid and real, each had so much life and depth. I really felt like I was there with each and every character.
I didn’t like the book because it made me want to route for a pedophilic romance. I didn’t like the book because it ended so abruptly and in my opinion, this book did NOT deserve that. I didn’t like the book because the entirety of it had me waiting for something bigger to happen, and then it just... ends.
So 3/5 because even though the writing and plot is so (I don’t know if amazing is the word I want to use, mesmerizing?), it ended so abruptly and the topics were a bit too heavy for me personally.
TW for child abuse, domestic abuse, drugs, sexual assault of a minor, pedophilia, murder.
This book is as dark as everyone told me it is. I’m waging an interior war with myself because I can’t decide whether I really liked the book or really hated it.
I liked the book because I do enjoy controversial topics. But THESE topics were almost too much for me. In a way, I feel like books like this teach me about the darker parts of humanity that most would rather stay ignorant to. The book had me so entranced by the topics it covered that I couldn’t stop reading. The writing style with multiple perspectives had me travelling on a crazy emotional roller coaster, because on one hand I’m like “aww Wavy and Kellen” and then on the other I’m like “what the fuck Wavy and Kellen.” The writing was well done. I felt like each and every character was so vivid and real, each had so much life and depth. I really felt like I was there with each and every character.
I didn’t like the book because it made me want to route for a pedophilic romance. I didn’t like the book because it ended so abruptly and in my opinion, this book did NOT deserve that. I didn’t like the book because the entirety of it had me waiting for something bigger to happen, and then it just... ends.
So 3/5 because even though the writing and plot is so (I don’t know if amazing is the word I want to use, mesmerizing?), it ended so abruptly and the topics were a bit too heavy for me personally.
galvineyezing's review against another edition
5.0
I need time to process this before writing a review...definitely a 4 or 5...
iamamylatta's review against another edition
4.0
I am not sure how to rate and review this.
It’s a really well crafted book and out awful things and it’s not a book I’d tell people they should read, unless they already want to.
I rate it highly because…..it makes me think. It makes me uncomfortable. It does not tell me how to feel about the ugly things, of which there are many.
I can empathize with these characters, and while I would never do anything they do, I can’t say I don’t understand the pathos and the trauma that leads to these decisions.
One thing I don’t agree with the description- this is not a romance novel. Please don’t market it as romance.
I believe they think they are in love. As it’s the only love either has ever really known where they are seen and understood but it’s not romantic. It’s tragic, and awful for them both.
And there were PLENTY of adults in Wavy’s young life who could have stopped the tragic events that happened to her day to day, and no one did enough (and in the 70s and 80s, I’m not surprised), so of course she’s a literal child who would not finds love and security from the one adult who’s not awful to her.
Ugh. What a story. I don’t need to read it again. And yet I’m still thinking about it.
It’s a really well crafted book and out awful things and it’s not a book I’d tell people they should read, unless they already want to.
I rate it highly because…..it makes me think. It makes me uncomfortable. It does not tell me how to feel about the ugly things, of which there are many.
I can empathize with these characters, and while I would never do anything they do, I can’t say I don’t understand the pathos and the trauma that leads to these decisions.
One thing I don’t agree with the description- this is not a romance novel. Please don’t market it as romance.
I believe they think they are in love. As it’s the only love either has ever really known where they are seen and understood but it’s not romantic. It’s tragic, and awful for them both.
And there were PLENTY of adults in Wavy’s young life who could have stopped the tragic events that happened to her day to day, and no one did enough (and in the 70s and 80s, I’m not surprised), so of course she’s a literal child who would not finds love and security from the one adult who’s not awful to her.
Ugh. What a story. I don’t need to read it again. And yet I’m still thinking about it.
jluszczak's review against another edition
3.0
Unconventional and taboo is a light way to put this. For more than half of the book I was like, “Wtf. This is wrong!?” but the writing was so good that I couldn’t stop reading it. Wasn’t the story for me but I absolutely cannot wait to read more from this author.
megbon's review against another edition
4.0
This is just to say I have never had less of an idea what to say about a book I read. Ever. I was so eager to be reading this book and so disturbed by what o was reading and then so disturbed that I wasn’t more disturbed.
lisaredfoxread's review against another edition
5.0
Uncomfortable, provocative, important. This book will make you feel and question your own definition of “right” and “wrong”. At least I hope it will.