mraddd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Torture, Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Violence, Vomit, Self harm, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Medical content, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Pedophilia
lilgoblin666's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Sexual violence
sallyrooneystan'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
netsreik'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: Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Child death, Child abuse, Bullying, Alcoholism, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Self harm
uss_mary_shelley's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Gore, Vomit, Medical trauma, Grief, Death, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Murder, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Blood, Sexual content, Rape, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse
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
rachelreads1994's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I understand the story isn't supposed to be comfortable and most of it I was fine reading I just didn't really care for the descriptions of young girls bodies, talking about how big their boobs are, the calling young girls sexy and hot and the many naked scenes with her younger sister was just a little weird to read. The random romance with the cop sorta seemed unnecessary and the ending was a little predictable. I feel like Adora should've been in the story more, it should've been more actual interactions with the mom and sister and less getting wasted in bars and just talking to random townspeople in my opinion. Not the worst but not as good as I thought it would be.
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit, Bullying, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, and Self harm
abbyj_04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Self harm, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
amvera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Bullying, Child death, Toxic relationship, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Sexism, and Alcoholism