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ariesbat's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking and Death of parent
becca__lindsay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Stalking, Death of parent, and Abandonment
carnageinterlude's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
My first thought I have to verbalise while writing this review: HOW can a novel this good be a debut???
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Death of parent
honestlyholly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
3.0
EDIT jan 2023 - i'm going through and reclassifying some reviews now that i've read more and sat on the books for a while.
how did I say that I'd lowered the review bc the ending was rubbish and yet still give it a 3.5? i need to sort myself out omg
originally 3.5 stars
---
Tense and anger-inducing! The 2 main males in the story are utter creeps! Constance, the main character, has major issues and honestly acts like a crazy person, but is at least interesting. She has trauma from her parents, even if the suicidal mum thing is a bit tropey at this point, and was so obviously not her fault?? I rated this down a bit because I was expected a big twist or a shocking finale, whereas it was kinda of a bit... Meh.
how did I say that I'd lowered the review bc the ending was rubbish and yet still give it a 3.5? i need to sort myself out omg
originally 3.5 stars
---
Tense and anger-inducing! The 2 main males in the story are utter creeps! Constance, the main character, has major issues and honestly acts like a crazy person, but is at least interesting. She has trauma from her parents, even if the
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
frostyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
i must admit that my opinion fluctuated a lot whilst reading this novel. at first, i was vaguely interested in the plot, but the characters were so unlikeable that i couldn’t connect to them in a way that i value in a book.
however, as the story developed and unfolded, i started to appreciate the beauty of constance’s raw and unapologetic flaws. i couldn’t help but laugh, cry, grieve and scream in frustration alongside her. and her friendship with edward was definitely the light that filtered through her struggles, and allowed the reader a well needed break from the heavy topics that are addressed. the ending left me awe-struck, and it will definitely be a hard one to forget.
i must admit that my opinion fluctuated a lot whilst reading this novel. at first, i was vaguely interested in the plot, but the characters were so unlikeable that i couldn’t connect to them in a way that i value in a book.
however, as the story developed and unfolded, i started to appreciate the beauty of constance’s raw and unapologetic flaws. i couldn’t help but laugh, cry, grieve and scream in frustration alongside her. and her friendship with edward was definitely the light that filtered through her struggles, and allowed the reader a well needed break from the heavy topics that are addressed. the ending left me awe-struck, and it will definitely be a hard one to forget.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny and Vomit