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astoriareader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
- Lee is currently unhoused & living out of her car. She’s waiting tables at a shady diner in Seattle, and she’s living in her car.
- Lee decides to start sleeping in car in a secluded park with a beach area in an upper class neighborhood. One morning, she wakes up when she hears a woman drowning, and she saves the woman. The drowning woman, Hazel, and Lee become friends.
- Hazel confides in Lee that she’s in an abusive marriage, and basically, she came out there to end her life that morning. As their new friendship begins, Hazel asks Lee if she will consider helping Hazel disappear & start her new life.
- Harding is a talented writer.
- Short chapters.
- Structured in different parts. We begin with Lee’s POV, then shift to Hazel’s POV.
- I thought the first half was a much stronger than the second half, and I really loved Lee’s part. It started off very strong.
- Some plot holes and inconsistencies that don’t make sense. Also, the story generally requires suspension of disbelief.
- This one had a lot of potential, and I was let down in some ways. It was an awesome beginning, a blah middle, and an okay ending.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Sexual content, Blood, and Vomit
Minor: Car accident
sstewart89'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
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
daniofthewood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Slavery
killmoore_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
katiedoesntftba's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident
lucykae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Confinement, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
readingonthefly'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
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Blood and Car accident
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Note: I'd just like to mention that I admire how the author takes her time to humanize homeless people and anyone else who is in a situation in which they feel trapped rather that be literally or figuratively. I also admire how she took the topic of BDSM delicately and didn't dehumanize it and prioritize that acts like those are only harmful when they're nonconsensual.
Spice Rating: 🌶️/5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, and Car accident
saraellenme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Forced institutionalization
annaofjesup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Addiction