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klandry98'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
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt
judassilver'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Car accident
gen_wolfhailstorm'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? It's complicated
3.0
Narrated by Bailey Carr, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz
Unabridged
One of my late netgalley arcs, I decided to listen to via my library app.
This was riveting and harrowing read following a dual sexual assault case, one in the present day and one set in the mystery of a cover up that happened some years before.
We follow a podcast presenter investigating both cases and it was interesting to see the perspective of varying characters of what, to me, is an obviously awful crime.
The acts done to the body was so graphic and really hard to read, so please bear that in mind.
Overall, I'm glad to have finally read this, but it was a heavy, difficult read.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
leebeeloves'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Gun violence and Vomit
alliskarathe's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, and Car accident
Minor: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Murder
smdamm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
lolabelle22'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Rape, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
rebeccahensley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
porchrailreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
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A little later than expected, but completed nonetheless.
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The Night Swim by #MeganGoldin is almost two stories in one. On the one hand, we have Rachel, an investigative reporter and host of a true crime podcast, covering a sexual abuse case in the coastal North Carolinian town of Neapolis. On the other, we have Hannah, still mourning the death of her older sister nearly a quarter of a century later, seeking to find justice. Interspersed is Rachel’s podcast coverage of the trial.
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In verbose and occasionally grandiose prose we learn the events of two seemingly unrelated but interconnected crimes. While the writing was a bit much, the message was incredibly profound and important. Conversations of sexual assault are difficult to have and there are ridiculous shades of gray. Victims bear the burden of proof and endure tremendous ridicule and trauma when coming forward. Society as a whole blames the victim for the crime while seldom confronting the perpetrator. It’s always “she should have…” instead of “he shouldn’t have…”
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I have three gripes with this book. The first I’ve already alluded to. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. It was too much in parts while simultaneously not being enough of what matters.
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Second, the cat and mouse game between Hannah and Rachel was unnecessary and detracted from Hannah’s story. Also, we never fully get resolution over the fact that Hannah straight up stalked Rachel for weeks.
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Lastly, Goldin painstakingly tries to assert that Rachel will be unbiased in her reporting and coverage of the trial but the reality is she’s anything but. The excerpts of the podcast included in the book are entirely biased and paint the defendant as guilty prior to the reading of the verdict. Rachel is no Sarah Koening and ‘Guilty or Not Guilty’ is no ‘Serial.’
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All in all, it’s a decent read though it has several triggers: rape, sexual assault, and the legal distinction between the two; abuse; neglect; death and dying; terminal illness; underaged drinking; trauma.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
colleeen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction