lizaxwin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book deals with so many important topics and so many horrible people (all or at least some of which all of us have had or sadly will have in our lives sometime or another). Theo was a walking red flag basically, although a lot of his toxic behaviour nearly went undetected. This, imo, was one of the strength of the „upside-down“ storyline. You knew what to look out for.
I‘m still unsure if I find it infuriating that we never find out the protagonist‘s name or if I think it‘s a clever way of showing that every woman could be her.
All in all, a clever story with lots of depth, ma be a few pages too many and definitely a book which practically screams to be read at least two or three times to be grasped in its entirety.
(Definitely check trigger warnings for this one)
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
ceryswilliams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, and Sexual harassment
echokore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Biphobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Lesbophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, Incest, Sexual content, and Vomit
iamnotclara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
kmcrossman's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Sexual harassment
skudiklier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Death, Biphobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Vomit, Violence, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Car accident
Minor: Cancer, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, War, Child abuse, Suicide, Drug abuse, and Abortion
shershenk'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
3.25
That being said, the individual chapters and moments were often beautifully executed and evocative…They just often seemed existent without purpose.
I will also say that the characters did feel very real. I quite enjoyed our unnamed main character (the fact that she went intentionally unnamed went over my head for over half the book, but I can take responsibility for that oversight), and Theo and even Maya felt very fleshed out.
All in all, I had a good time!
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual harassment