clareasday's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity
jjyork's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
medini_l'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? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
telepathyjmin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Just a few complaints about this book:
1. Repeating word for word the letters Lily wrote in book one. I guess if you read the books when they came out, instead of reading them directly back to back, it might be fine. But felt very unnecessary to me. Really could have just included a summary of them.
2. As a few other people have pointed out, really didn't like Alyssa + Marshall in this. If you were friends with someone who was abused physically + mentally by your brother/best friend would you still continue to be on good terms with them? I know i sure as hell wouldn't.
Took them until the very end of the book to get their act together and side with Lily instead of Ryle, EVEN THOUGH she went through abuse from this dude for over a year(?)
Last small critique is that i noticed quite a few typos throughout the book, with the words 'me' and 'my' being used interchangeably at times for some reason.
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
vickimarie2002's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
josiepowers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
saramaiabarbas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Abandonment
karin_goodreads'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
3.5
Hoover's books have always been easy to read for me - time kind of flies by and they're fairly simple. The plot on the other hand is... wild.
First of all, Ryle's entire existence makes me want to erase him from my memories. Why didn't he lose everything? I know I'm just observing the story that's being told, but come on! He had it too easy.
Even Allysa and Marshall got tainted by the shadow he left. It's a weird situations all over.
Spoiler
Why doesn't mother Kincaid know what the fuck his son has done? I'm frustrated. Not sure how any one of them continued to have a fairly good relationship with an abuser, but oh well.I may not be perfect, but I don't deserve to fear for my life every time I make a mistake.
Atlas' and Lily's love story was fine. I feel like they have a trauma bond rather than being so unbelievably in love. Every other second there had to be a mention how Lily saved Atlas, which is fine, but that kind of muddles the waters for understanding where else the love is growing from.
Spoiler
The wedding vow in the end was strange, that didn't feel totally on character, I'm frowning even now thinking about it. The letter's ending where Atlas asked Lily to move in got me, I did not expect that!At some parts I forgot Lily even existed, because I was so into Atlas' family's story. To be honest, I liked Atlas' story on it's own the most. I would genuinely like some Atlas and Josh only content.
Spoiler
OH YEAH, Josh, the little brother who came out of fucking nowhere?? I mean the behaviour suits the mom's character, but this felt way too sudden and random, more for a shock effect.FYI, I need everyone to know that Atlas' 12-year-old therapist Theo was the star of this book! He had my heart with those quips. Not sure what his purpose was, but I would like to keep him, yes & thank you!
I can draw a seedling with two tiny branches. Yours and mine. We’ll be on our own brand-new, tiny family tree—one that starts with us.
(That part was so satisfying.)
Now, the ending was just way too easy. How is every "villain" suddenly having a change of character (
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
brittany_ballin'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: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Grief, and Vomit
alexisgillogly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Alcohol