jennaslaney_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Terminal illness
gothmiku'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
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Car accident, Miscarriage, Abortion, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Body horror, Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Animal death, and Cancer
booksbythemile's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Murder, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Injury/injury detail, Blood, Mental illness, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Death, Miscarriage, Child death, and Child abuse
jfield351's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Vomit, Blood, Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Child death
Moderate: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/injury detail, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Body horror, Blood, Abortion, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Vomit, Grief, Cursing, and Car accident
Minor: Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Cancer
honeybunchesofoats06'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Vomit, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Grief, Alcohol, and Cancer
sadhvi05's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Child death
Minor: Blood and Sexual violence
ashleyelizabeth's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This is disturbing as all hell.
Graphic: Child death, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Child abuse, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Abortion, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death, Pregnancy, and Grief
chrztnnn's review
- 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
1.0
The story is about a writer who is tapped to continue a well-loved series from a successful yet bedridden writer until all freaking hell sort of made its way to the novel. In this book although they are perhaps illustrated under subtle and normal, some characteristics (both of Lowen and Jeremy) are discouraging given their supposed age and state in the story. Too many sex scenes! The heed to explore the situations and the lenses of the children (who greatly contribute to the 'dynamics' of the main adult characters) are apparently left ignored. Lacking elements of deeply interrogating the trialed marriage, Lowen's just really sexually thirsty, Jeremy's too typical and stereotypical (yes, grandiose loins and general attractiveness have potential to defect storylines), and Verity? Dude, I think the story would have been a real win if she were truly a monster of a mother. The letter thing ended up unnecessary.
Nevertheless, there were parts that were appreciating such as the ventures of writing--its calls and sacrifices just to produce that publishable worth of literary work. That's all I remember liking.
Was glad to finish this in one sitting. It made the agony short and quick.
Graphic: Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, and Blood
Moderate: Car accident, Cancer, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape
becphe's review
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Abortion, Abandonment, and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming, Car accident, Confinement, Injury/injury detail, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Infidelity
lisaandthebooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
I do know, that I'm very sensitive and that books, that are as graphic as this, probably just aren't for me. Also I absolutely hate cheating in books. This book would have been so much better if there hadn't been a romance in there. I do understand though how it made the experience in the house more intense for the protagonist and how it made the ending more intense.
I don't particularily like Lowen. She was terrified even when nothing has happened yet and I feel like it was kind of unrealistic that she chose to stay in that house after reading the manuscript. I would have read the whole thing in one sitting, grabbed all my stuff and then left.
I belive she even says that the only reason she didn't was because of Jeremy. I have to admit that I kind of liked him in the beginning. He was nice to her and even in the biography he seemed like a fun and genuine person. After the ending though it kind of feels like he orchestrated the whole thing.
The romance was just weird. I feel like it wasn't at all a problem for him to cheat on his wife. Like I guess he says he feels guilty but we get to see none of it. I felt like he was flirting with her ever since he met her. (He even kind of admits that when saying he felt a connection to Lowen that was stronger than the connection to his wife had ever been in the bathroom! Like that was 5 min. after they met and coincidentally right when he sees her in just her bra? - I don't actually think that is the reason, still.) Lowen also did not feel like someone still grieving the death of her mother. The romance just felt like it was so disconnected to the rest of the story and didn't make any sense in the context.
I did think it was quite interesting to read the autobiography though. I generally really like different POVs / that every other chapter showed the past. It was disturbing but it was still interesting to see her thoughts. It's unlike anything I've ever read for sure.
I have been spoiled for the plottwists in this book but I don't think it took away too much. I think I would have expected it anyways. Also the letter in the end was a truly great ending. I do not like Lowen and the way she acted throughout the book but especially the end was just weird.
Some of the book reminded me of a modern Jane Eyre. I mean he's rich and has a child to take care of, he hires her and she lives with him, there is his wife (locked up) in the 'attic'... I do not particularily like Mr. Rochester either so I guess my feelings towards the two books are similar. (Jane Eyre is better though)
I did read it all in one sitting though so I guess it couldn't have been that bad. I was completely captivated. I sometimes didn't want to continue and get it over with but sometimes I was genuinly intruiged. I have way more thought on this book than that but I don't really want to think about this book anymore. I don't think it's written badly and I liked the format. The story was alright and I don't like the 'romance'. I get why people like this book but if you're sensitive when reading about neglected children and abuse be careful when reading this. I would definitely tell anyone thinking about reading this to check out the trigger warnings first.
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Abortion, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia