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lydabuff's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Constance is a complicated and lonely woman reeling from a personal tragedy when she meets Dr Samuel and well, she gets a bit more unhinged.
Levin writes brilliant, layered characters including my favourite grumpy old man Edward. Constance flits from being someone you can fully understand and empathise with to making the worst and cringiest decisions but this helps her feels three dimensional and real.
Definitely one to read but, mindfully, for some of the content.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm and Violence
mylifeasjessskincare'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
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
reggiereading's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
charmainediane's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, and Stalking
cinderelliex'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
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
teasag's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
oceannec'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, and Stalking
meganabigailreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
becca__lindsay'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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Stalking, Death of parent, and Abandonment
carnageinterlude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If I Can't Have You is a novel I picked up following Constance Little, a receptionist at a doctor's practice in London. Aside from the gripping introduction in this epistolary novel where we meet our Constance, clad in blood, vodka and taffeta, the story begins after the death of one of the doctor's, introducing Dr Samuel Stevens. Through Constance's rose-tinted glasses, Samuel seems idyllic, but Ms Levin takes us on a dizzying journey that rips apart our preconceived ideas about these characters.
Despite how twisted Constance is as a character, her backstory allows readers to sympathise somewhat; shrouded in extreme guilt she feels for the loss of both parental figures in her life and such loneliness, I can understand why she latches on to a near stranger who offers her cheap sex. In fact, Levin's epistolary style gives an insight into every detail of her emotions spiralling into an obsession which is part of what allowed me to gel with such a flawed protagonist. Samuel, on the other hand, had the opposite effect on me as I read on. Despite Constance's addiction to him, he is truly mediocre. A womaniser who has no outstanding talent outside of his medical ability, Samuel leads Constance, among other female characters, like donkeys with a carrot on a stick.
The ending came as a huge shock to me. Despite Constance killing the very person she loved after such an emotional climax, she suffers virtually no consequence; however, now Constance seems so much happier, I realised that letting go of Samuel was somewhat symbolic of her letting go of the trauma that she had channelled into him throughout the length of the book. Now she is not alone. She still has Edward and is even pregnant with Samuel's baby which I think is another symbol of her healing from past guilt and trauma of her and her mother's relationship. A fresh start.
This was a truly gripping read and I was hooked from the first page.
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Death of parent