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purpl_pages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Incredible book that delves into difficult subjects like child abuse and its aftermath. Follows “girl A”, the first girl found at the scene of the crime, as she struggles with managing her trauma in adulthood and remembers the sinister details of her upbringing in increasingly tense flashbacks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
storybookvisitor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
carrieemoran's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title. This was TOUGH to read. The amount of detail the author created around the abuse these characters went through as children is sometimes overwhelming. I don't recommend it to anyone who is overly empathetic or sensitive to graphic & traumatic content. That said, it was well-written and thought provoking, though sometimes the transition between timelines was confusing.
vacantbones's review against another edition
4.0
From reading some of the Goodreads reviews, I can tell that Girl A wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Some cite the writing style, others the nature of the relationships between the Gracie siblings. I respect all of these opinions, and I felt the same way at first. Somewhere along the way, though, perhaps about a quarter into the book, I realized that I was entirely entranced by Alexandra and her story.
Writing about child abuse in a way that entices readers without sensationalizing such horrors must be difficult, but I thought that Dean did a wonderful job painting a picture of a tragic, terrifying household. The author is able to show how each sibling responds with different coping mechanisms, different levels of forgiveness, without overly explaining why such vices are chosen.
Something about the book kept me from rounding up to 5 stars, but as I sit here and write my review, I think of a family fractured by fanaticism, complicity, and raw pain. A beautiful, ugly story.
Writing about child abuse in a way that entices readers without sensationalizing such horrors must be difficult, but I thought that Dean did a wonderful job painting a picture of a tragic, terrifying household. The author is able to show how each sibling responds with different coping mechanisms, different levels of forgiveness, without overly explaining why such vices are chosen.
Something about the book kept me from rounding up to 5 stars, but as I sit here and write my review, I think of a family fractured by fanaticism, complicity, and raw pain. A beautiful, ugly story.
sketchwaffles's review against another edition
dark
medium-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
3.0
kwil87's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
kareenadeah's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
I decided to read this book after seeing it heavily promoted on TikTok and Instagram. Unfortunately, its execution left much to be desired.
The novel frequently jumps timelines, often every other paragraph, leading to confusion about whether events are set in the present or past. This disjointed approach requires frequent re-reading to understand the narrative and identify the speakers, which becomes quite frustrating.
The references to “mother” and “mother” are ambiguous—are these referring to adopted parents or biological mother? The lack of clarity extends to the characters, making them difficult to connect with as the story lacks depth and direction. The exploration of the children’s recovery from abuse feels scattered and vague, with significant parts left unexplained, reducing the potential for empathy and connection.
The book is not a thriller and is slow-paced, focusing more on character analysis than plot development. Key questions about the origin of the abuse, why it went unnoticed, and why some children were not restrained are left unanswered. The boys’ involvement and the dynamics between characters such as Lex and Noah remain unclear.
Despite its potential to address a sensitive topic, the book falls short, delivering a narrative that feels more like a character study rather than an engaging story. The twist at the end is predictable, and unresolved questions about Ethan’s involvement in the abuse further detract from the story’s impact.
Overall, I found it less compelling than expected and only skimmed through the latter parts
horsley123's review against another edition
5.0
It's a page turner - set to be this year's must read.
Bit of trauma, religious fervour, sibling rivalry, mystery and who did what to whom - all adding up to a jolly good read. The story is harrowing - think along the lines of 'Room', and deals with the different interpretations of the situation by the various siblings. I don't want to give anything away - just go and read it for yourself!
Bit of trauma, religious fervour, sibling rivalry, mystery and who did what to whom - all adding up to a jolly good read. The story is harrowing - think along the lines of 'Room', and deals with the different interpretations of the situation by the various siblings. I don't want to give anything away - just go and read it for yourself!
horsley123's review against another edition
5.0
It's a page turner - set to be this year's must read.
Bit of trauma, religious fervour, sibling rivalry, mystery and who did what to whom - all adding up to a jolly good read. The story is harrowing - think along the lines of 'Room', and deals with the different interpretations of the situation by the various siblings. I don't want to give anything away - just go and read it for yourself!
Bit of trauma, religious fervour, sibling rivalry, mystery and who did what to whom - all adding up to a jolly good read. The story is harrowing - think along the lines of 'Room', and deals with the different interpretations of the situation by the various siblings. I don't want to give anything away - just go and read it for yourself!