Reviews

Bad Fruit by Ella King

billie_budd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

This book is a little bit slow to get into but once it gets going it goes. So unsettling and immersive, which is significant, because a lot of the material is stuff you may want to shy away from (which is indeed itself an element of the plot). Much darker than I expected (I think that’s a bit of a mismatch with the descriptive copy maybe) but I’m so glad I read it. 

amy_da1sy's review

4.0

I really enjoyed this. This is a topic that hits close to home.

tallesttrees's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

neshasurya's review against another edition

4.5

a complex and layered story about the cycle of abuse and familial relationships. makes me wanna rethink my relationship with my parents. still can't believe this is a debut novel. 

dari perspektif seorang anak yang gak pernah bisa ngerti kenapa seorang ibu bisa abusive dan ayah yang cenderung takut dan meremehkan apa yang dialami si anak. bukunya cukup desktiftif, jadi hati-hati aja ya. please baca trigger warningnya dulu.

bayangin seorang anak yang selalu berusaha bikin orang tuanya bahagia dengan cara apapun. rasanya kayak lagi baca succession. berhasil bikin gak nyaman, terutama tentang cara protagonis handle ibunya yang narsisistik. alias pengen marah-marah jir :( 

eksplorasi hubungan adik-kakaknya juga bagus. perasaan kesel karena adik rela melakukan apapun atau kenapa si kakak selalu menimbulkan keributan, atau kenapa si kakak memilih pergi kalau ada masalahnya juga bisa relatable banget. 

ada beberapa makanan atau budaya indonesia yang disebut. jadi aku malah bayangin si ibunya tuh emang chindo dan bukan orang singapur wkwk. 

overall, this was a much heavier and darker novel than I expected it to be. ini bukan sekedar misteri thriller kenapa lily bisa mengalami flashback aneh, tapi justru bahas generational trauma. 

grandpagreenshoe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

absolutely gut wrenching 

colleenclementine's review against another edition

3.0

didn't love it, didn't hate it

i don't typically find audiobooks with flashbacks hard to follow but i did with this one. if you read it i think you'll understand why. i did find the story interesting but the flashback situation really threw me off and then confused me for the second half of the book so it was hard for me to stay engaged/interested

i think i'd like to read it again either physically or when i can slow down and really listen and i might enjoy it more. back with a better review when i read this one again at some point?

daniellewalters's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

she_hearts_horror's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

5.0

readingrainbow69's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

a heart wrenching exploration of generational trauma and abuse

mnam_mnam's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.0