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se_wigget's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
SPOILERS:
Also, my phone is a piece of trash that kept refusing to paste this review into StoryGraphy & Goodreads. Over and over again. I had to turn on my laptop... just to post one book review.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content, and Grief
rory18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Incest, Pedophilia, Xenophobia, and Vomit
The "there's nothing Frank wouldn't do" and fact that there's no video footage of Frank's room with Elle in it and the general non-sexual first stages of grooming is enough to imply an adult/minor relationship with 16 year old Elle being Frank's favorite, so I'm tagging adult-minor relationship. The main character was in a puppy love relationship with one of her sisters before they grew to consider each other sisters and talks about remembering the feel of her mouth which is sort of pseudo-incestuous. Frank doesn't let the girls learn Spanish for some reason. Excessive mentions and usage of w/nd/gos for a non-Native author.bookish_hollyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Abandonment
baxstarjonmarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The author does an especially excellent job bringing in new perspectives on body horror and general spookiness intertwined with the main character's fatness that do not denigrate or monsterize her size, but rather see her fully embody herself and her power.
I was riveted by the story, I loved how much Derry (the main) and her siblings love language and play with it. And sometimes it was so scary that I was peeking between my fingers like at the movies. Just a perfect debut novel, I cannot wait to preorder the author's next book!
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture and Car accident
Minor: Cursing
pixie_dust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jokes aside, I love this book. I was on the fence at the start since it felt slow and felt repetitive. But as the story continues, my fondness for Derry and the rest of the siblings just kept growing deeper. By the end, I could not put the book down.
Everyone is a unique character and just fun to read. Even Frank is worth my time! I just felt so drawn to their lake house and I was yearning for more after I reached the acknowledgement page. It was a magical (and gory) rollercoaster ride, and I'm glued on the front row seat!
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child death, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
kabornman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Amazing amount of various types of representation. Delving into gray moral areas. Plus plenty of magic
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
thereaderfriend'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
evbyrd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror and Blood
vaniavela'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
naomidanae'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail