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ripxreads's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Violence and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual violence, and Classism
Minor: Religious bigotry
memydogandbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
[AD: thanks to VerveBooks for an advanced copy of this book!]
📕 Deliver Me by Elle Nash
📕 Contemporary, literary horror, LGBTQ+ rep
📕 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
📕 Published 27 June
What's it about?
Dee-Dee, a hardened worker at a Missouri meatpacking plant, grapples with a brutal job and a deep longing for motherhood. After suffering miscarriages, she finally becomes pregnant and clings to the hope of a complete life. However, her past choices, including leaving a strict Pentecostal church and an unstable boyfriend, complicate her present. With her mother's judgmental calls and a childhood friend's return stirring old desires, Dee-Dee navigates the challenges of pregnancy while fearing she might lose it all again.
What did I think?
- Wow this was my first book by Nash and it won't be my last, their ability to shock with purpose was outstanding.
- Dee-Dee is a character that Nash has created that I felt simultaneous waves of despair, disgust and empathy for, she's so complex and so much the victim of her world, upbringing and society.
- It's brutal!
- I was on a rollercoaster of emotions watching the despair Dee-Dee has trying & wanting to become a mum whilst surrounded by so much violence and a constant feeling of worthlessness when at the same time you are witness to her own violent behaviour.
- Sloane and Dee-Dee's past and present relationship is complex and lustful, there's a whole scene in their past that is very graphic, I will never forget it and it legit gave me Saltburn vibes (I loved that movie!)
- Given the nature of Dee-Dees job and another "incident", there is graphic animal torture in this book which jarred, in a pertinent way - why do we find that more disturbing than any of the violence towards humans? Even more so than the chickens she butchers every day? The author is making us reflect a lot on our feelings and perceptions.
- This book covers so much: desire for motherhood, the societal pressure and importance that is put onto women to become mothers, miscarriage, mental health, class, fundamentalist religion, familial connections, first loves and more...
- This book packs an absolute gut punch cleverly and intentionally.
- This story will stay with me for a good while after reading.
Horror fans, I highly recommend it! Just check out the content warnings!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Violence, and Pregnancy
brotestantethic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A complete rollercoaster of a novel, which I almost DNFed at the beginning. It starts out grotesque, with taboo sexuality (calling her partner exclusively “Daddy,” sex with bugs crawling over their bodies, etc.), graphic depictions of chicken slaughter, and way too much going on. Of course, the first few chapters set the stage for the shitshow that builds Daisy Adams’ character.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, and Sexual violence
sarah_bookshelf'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Gore, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
ariizolas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
hollywobble'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
kassietheresa's review against another edition
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
Honestly, there is so much graphic content in this book. Do not read if you are on the fence (super good book, but also very disturbing).