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syazahaniss's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
1.0
I finished this book but until now I have no idea what the point of the story is.
This book had a lot of potential but the execution was so bad. How was I still waiting for something to happen at 90%??? I genuinely didn’t know what was going on the entire time.
Natalie was so annoying making her putting her siblings in prison all those years ago her entire personality. And speaking of, I personally feel that their reason for ending up in jail wasn’t that substantial? But then again I’ve never been to jail so.
The conflicts were so lame and trivial too. I think they would have added more value and substance to the story if the author had expanded on them a bit more. On top of that, the conflict resolution aspect was altogether too convenient – there was barely any effort on Natalie’s part and everything seemed to unrealistically fall from the sky for her.
Some of the details of the story were repeated a few times too (for example Ashier with the gala, Dr Berkhower with the degree require for the illustration job), which made me think that the author forgot what she had and had not mentioned.
Overall a disappointment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Death of parent
torlee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, and Vomit
megs_bok's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Drug abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
sammykat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A family drama with romance, mystery and sibling relationships. The book was fun and lighthearted despite some darker themes of prison, drugs, death, animal gore and the characters were interesting and had good depth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Vomit, and Death of parent
skyba3's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Blood, and Vomit
alanamccausland's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Enjoyed the beginning. Hoped for more throughout. The middle dragged on. Didn’t like the ending - it felt abrupt. Good writing but I could tell it was a debut novel. Nice plot ideas but not always developed enough. Kinda cheesy in a bad way at times.. predictable. Craved more from the characters. *Forgiving yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty and Cancer
jekarlen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Vomit
lilcubana31's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
the_true_monroe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a very fast paced book focused largely on healing and moving forward on an individual level (from the perspective of the narrator) and on a family level. I enjoyed it a lot with my favorite character being the cat.
There was one prevalent issue that has my rating at a 4 star and it is something that I noticed originally from another review when I was earlier in the book- but it would have become apparent on my own. Over 15 years ago Natalie’s siblings Lynn and Jake were sentenced to jail time as a result of illicit drug use which resulted in the death of their close friend. Natalie had been the person who called the cops both out of anger but also since Lynn really did hurt herself. The friend took his own life after realizing the cops were called.
Below this point has some minor spoilers.
Natalie is blamed for ALL of it. Even her mom does not talk to her for those 15 years, and her mom’s death is what leads to the premise of the book as she wants to bring the three siblings back together. Those sympathetic to her mention it having been an “honest mistake”. Everything is about forgiving Natalie, not addressing that even though she “rat” them out that she did not set them up for anything- they were adults who honestly had Natalie in a dangerous situation. Lynn and Jake later react incredulously when Natalie did not call the cops during a time when it was absolutely critical to, due to all of that trauma of last time she called.
While that did bother me, I really enjoyed the combination of drama, romance, nerdiness and a bit of mystery. It was a great read.
There was one prevalent issue that has my rating at a 4 star and it is something that I noticed originally from another review when I was earlier in the book- but it would have become apparent on my own. Over 15 years ago Natalie’s siblings Lynn and Jake were sentenced to jail time as a result of illicit drug use which resulted in the death of their close friend. Natalie had been the person who called the cops both out of anger but also since Lynn really did hurt herself. The friend took his own life after realizing the cops were called.
Below this point has some minor spoilers.
Natalie is blamed for ALL of it. Even her mom does not talk to her for those 15 years, and her mom’s death is what leads to the premise of the book as she wants to bring the three siblings back together. Those sympathetic to her mention it having been an “honest mistake”. Everything is about forgiving Natalie, not addressing that even though she “rat” them out that she did not set them up for anything- they were adults who honestly had Natalie in a dangerous situation. Lynn and Jake later react incredulously when Natalie did not call the cops during a time when it was absolutely critical to, due to all of that trauma of last time she called.
While that did bother me, I really enjoyed the combination of drama, romance, nerdiness and a bit of mystery. It was a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Confinement and Terminal illness
jg34's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It was an ok story but I couldn’t get past the main conflict. I get that drug and crime issues in general are not just black and white and right and wrong and perhaps it was a brash decision but the whole “it’s all Natalie’s fault” thing doesn’t work for me. the fact that still after 15 years Jake and Lynn don’t take responsibilities for their own actions is mind boggling. I get them being mad while they are young and maybe even though out their sentence but to hold a grudge for that long??? Like the fact that they were actively engaging in illegal activities is definitely not at all the reason they were sent to prison? I guess it gets complicated with Carlos and I understand some guilt around that but everyone is at fault for that, not just Natalie. How would she know that he would do what he did. And she didn’t even really call the cops because of the drugs she called because her sister was hurt and her brother was too lit to do anything to help. They never in 15 years considered how scary that was for Natalie? Or the fact that she was basically still a child???????? That would be so traumatizing to see your siblings doing heroin and then all the aftermath on top of it! Idk it doesn’t track for me even the mom basically exiling her. Natalie took way too much shit for one “mistake” if you can even call it one. really ruined the book for me I kept waiting for a proper reconciliation but I didn’t think it was good enough
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting