tkatt20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a ride. The premise it's was good, it felt like reading a Criminal Minds episode for the first 100 or so pages, but then we entered into the second half where things dragged and got weirder and more off-putting, and not in a good way, more of a "why is this thirty+ year old taking drugs from a 13 year old" way. I did genuinely like the main plots of the book, but once the MC has a few vastly inappropriate interactions with underage characters I was a little checked out.
I did keep reading for the mystery though. I was so certain I knew who the killer was but was quickly proven wrong at the end. I thought the characters were very interesting, mostly unlikable, but interesting nonetheless, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how they all responded to the crimes going on in their little town. If you're looking for a multi-layered, macabre mystery, then this will be perfect for you, otherwise I would go looking for something a little lighter and to preserve a little bit of the innocence you may have left.
Graphic: Murder, Self harm, Alcoholism, Vomit, Mental illness, Bullying, and Child death
Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Classism, Lesbophobia, Cancer, and Cannibalism
littlelines's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
ahopper7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Body horror, Death, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Murder, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Addiction, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Chronic illness, and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Cursing, Bullying, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Animal death, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
cinthiaurora's review against another edition
4.0
I think she’s a very talented writer but in some instances throughout this book the way she presents new info felt a little off.
Spoiler
For example, the cutting.For something that Flynn really emphasized plagues Camille’s every waking thought and influences every aspect of how she interacts with others, it just felt funny to “reveal” it half way through the novel. A novel being narrated by Camille no less.
Same thing with Adora’s violent tendencies. Up until Camille recalls the cheek biting incident, Adora was just presented to be a slightly overbearing, distant but possibly well-meaning mother. For being such a core memory you would think she would have brought this up, just, like, a little bit sooner. I understand the way to build suspense and all the strategies authors use to “leave breadcrumbs” in a story all the way up until the final climax. I understand the reason why these things couldn’t all be brought up at once. But sometimes it just felt like Camille had this selective amnesia until it was convenient for the narrative.
It felt funny, that’s all. But that’s just me being nitpicky.
Another thing that felt weird was the way Richard and Camille just, never spoke again immediately after the climax. I’m not saying it’s not realistic or that I craved any further “romance” between them, it just felt like a loose end Flynn didn’t know how to tie up so it was dropped altogether.
Anyways, those are just some of my thoughts. Great novel overall. Very twisted (in a good way) exploration of the dynamic between mother and daughter- which was rightfully the center focus of the book. Everything beyond that isn’t worth nitpicking too much. (Unless you’re like me and you like nitpicking :))
Graphic: Alcohol, Self harm, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Rape, Child death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Minor: Animal death, Classism, Sexism, and Misogyny
booknerdbetty's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Gaslighting, Sexism, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual violence, Self harm, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Rape
Moderate: Animal cruelty
becktothefuture's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Self harm, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Torture, Misogyny, Vomit, Child abuse, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Medical content, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/injury detail, Drug abuse, and Child death
sofipitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Drug use, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Injury/injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Addiction and Pedophilia
maddwomann'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
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Abandonment, Body horror, Vomit, Grief, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Dysphoria, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Medical content, Classism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Cursing
captainroz'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Murder, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia and Mental illness
Minor: Misogyny and Rape
sennaje's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Vomit, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Chronic illness, Death, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts