Reviews

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

nicolegardner's review

informative reflective slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

I am truly honored to have received this ARC. Going into this story, I had no idea what it was about. Jodi Picoult has been one of my favorite authors since high school and I just automatically read anything she writes. 
Historical fictions are not my favorite type of book and at points, the topic of Shakespear and the writing style was a tad over my head. It was a slow burn for me, but worth it for the ending. 
With that said, I ended up being very invested in the story and talked to friends and clients about the messaging in the novel. I loved the broader messaging about females in society, oppression, misogyny, women's health, etc. Truly eye opening and such a reflection of society today. 
On StoryGraph, I rated this a 4.5 star read. Here, I will round up to 5 because it made me care about a topic that I have not even thought about since English class.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Abortion, Child death, and Death of parent

chelshudsonreads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

bdholloway256's review against another edition

fast-paced

5.0

 

Jodi Picoult is very much an auto buy author for me. Picoult continues to shine in By Any Other Name. The characters, as well as the story, are brilliantly written & I could not get enough of this book. While this is a rather long book, it is so worth the read. I would recommend pre-ordering this title & reading it as soon as you receive it.  Also, don’t miss the author’s note at the end - it adds even more to this already 5-star read! 

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC copy of this book.

 

dhonings's review

inspiring medium-paced

• 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

3.5

brittonmc1221's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, Rape, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, and Misogyny

estella513's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

c0reyann's review

emotional slow-paced

• 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

4.75

nfuscaldo7's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

kaileemichelle's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

3.5

heather_fallis's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0