chewireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Gore, Death, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Child death, Child abuse, Bullying, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Medical content
readingwithcoffee'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Murder, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Moderate: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Bullying, Incest, Torture, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders
tessalort's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Mental illness, and Self harm
maddie_d_316's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Child death, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Domestic abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Child abuse, Self harm, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Body horror
absolutechaos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The synopsis of the book made me think it would be a mystery, but it’s more focused on our protagonist, Camille. It’s an examination of her childhood, patterns of self harm, and her fractured family dynamics. As a sucker for stories about generational trauma, I loved this aspect. Camille’s mother is a striking character and I enjoyed her presence in the book.
Honestly the reason this has three stars is that it personally isn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy the repeated descriptions of sexual assault of children. It had its place in the book, but wasn’t part of its core and so at times, it felt like the author was aiming for shock value more than anything. I personally would have preferred the book have a bit more restraint, as it’s throughout the whole book repeatedly and I think less could have been more here. But this isn’t my genre of choice and I get that a lot of people find this element compelling and raw.
Don’t read this book if you’re squeamish and if you have any major triggers, please check if the book has them. It does not hold back.
Graphic: Child abuse, Addiction, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Murder, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug use, Grief, and Sexism
mr_cain'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Murder, Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Vomit
Minor: Animal death
litgirldiaries'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
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Self harm, Domestic abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Suicide
lenadesouza'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? Yes
4.5
I've read it all in three days.
I love my existence!
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Death, Sexual violence, Child death, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual assault
wkh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
With that being said, I did start reading this book knowing full well what I was getting into. However, I was a little perturbed by how dark the book seemed. I would have appreciated more emphasis on creating a better plot or more memorable characters. Instead, the macabre seemed to be the focus of the author.
I liked the plot and the story. I did not enjoy the writing style too much either - the writing seemed overly descriptive and there wasn't much of a plot besides the main character bouncing around town and having random conversations which might or might not yield any useful information. I can see why this book is hyped, but it just did not do it for me. Decent book, but I am not sure if I will be reading any more from Gillian Flynn.
Graphic: Cursing, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Addiction, Violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Self harm
darlingcami's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Self harm, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism