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greatexpectations77's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I read this over quite a while because we were on vacation, so it was in little pieces, but it felt like a super long 8-hour book. There was a whole lot of internal discussion with Lizzie, which is partly appropriate for the age, but it still felt like a little much. And then I didn't love that we never get a totally clear idea of everything that happened pre and with the kidnapping. I guess that makes sense because a child wouldn't totally understand it or get all the info, but it wasn't my favorite as a reader. Ms. Abbott likes making up her own words in more poetic prose, which I don't love, and in most of her books it feels like that happens way more in the beginning of the book when she has a lot of steam and then trails off later in the books. I thought the narrator did a really good job.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
halfcactus's review against another edition
dark
2.5
Grooming and sexual harassment/assault framed in a missing persons case and told in the PoV of teenage girls who have daddy issues and are navigating school and sexual experiences. It' more interested in the psychology and the emotions than the crime and mystery, except the psychology and feelings aren't very interesting and the final twist is quite standard. The prose is attractive and the scenes of girlhood would be nice in a coming-of-age novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
deshanejt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Wow.
Definitely dark, and borders on disturbing and troubling... Yet, I couldn't put it down.
I saw a review that said, "the thing I fear most, is being a teenage girl in a Megan Abbott novel..."
Definitely dark, and borders on disturbing and troubling... Yet, I couldn't put it down.
I saw a review that said, "the thing I fear most, is being a teenage girl in a Megan Abbott novel..."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Kidnapping
xlcior's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape
alinwonderland's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Incest, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Stalking
hollykhazzard's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was unsure whether to rate this a 2 or a 3 but I went with 3 because I enjoyed it at the start but I’m not sure what it was ,there was something about it that just seemed off and a bit odd . It is most definitely a fast read but I just didn’t seem very interested . Now that could be me or just the way I found the book. I was really confused about the storyline and I was really baffled of the relationship or what was going on between Lizzie and Me Verver . I was also so so confused on what the book was insinuating about Dusty and her father . At some points I found it disturbing and what I got from this book is that it is based on 13 year old girls lacking male role models . I’m unsure on whether the fact that Evie is jealous of Dusty’s relationship with their father justifies Evie going onto have a relationship with an incredibly old man . I just found it baffling and bazaar.
There was something about this book that I just didn’t seem to get along with .
Did anyone else find /feel the same with this book?
Edit:
So I think this should be a 1/2 star because after thinking about it so many things in this story doesn’t sit right with me . The fact that almost every main female 13 year old seems to have a weird relationship with an older man . Some of them seem slightly incestuous but I know it’s not just me who this . This book is just incredibly odd with all the mentioned of sexual assault and almost every 13 year old having what is made out to be “daddy issues” .
There was something about this book that I just didn’t seem to get along with .
Did anyone else find /feel the same with this book?
Edit:
So I think this should be a 1/2 star because after thinking about it so many things in this story doesn’t sit right with me . The fact that almost every main female 13 year old seems to have a weird relationship with an older man . Some of them seem slightly incestuous but I know it’s not just me who this . This book is just incredibly odd with all the mentioned of sexual assault and almost every 13 year old having what is made out to be “daddy issues” .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
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