simkei's review
- 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
Graphic: Stalking, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Violence, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Ableism, Death, Suicide, Rape, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, and Kidnapping
Minor: Body horror and Blood
latham9'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
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Stalking
Minor: Abortion
timbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Ableism
shereadsmysteries's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Ableism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Misogyny, Rape, and Stalking
Minor: Vomit, Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Abortion
Ableism: Discussions of keeping/terminating a pregnancy where child could be disabled; Abortion: discussion only; Child death: Stillbirth; Rape: False rape allegationsthenonbinaryc's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Ableism, Abortion, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
marisa_thorne's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Eating disorder
peppers_books'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
1.0
The premise of the story sounds really interesting and unique, but when executed felt really unrealistic and flat. This was really disappointing as the beginning was relatively strong - it went downhill exponentially after the first fifty pages. Also, absolutely none of the characters were likeable. They were tolerable at best, and outright irritating at worst. At points I was so annoyed with Emma's character that I would've literally roundhouse kicked her if given the chance. I also really disliked how her sections were written without quotations. Like?? why?? And I just never understood any of the character's decisions and actions. I felt like a majority of the book had no purpose, like it contributed nothing to the plot and was just a space-filler.
On top of the whole mess that is this entire book, I felt the way that certain topics were discussed was really crass. How sexual assault is used as a plot device, how the only criminals in the book are Black and poor, how abortion and disabilities are discussed. Just a giant mess.
Spoiler
And I absolutely HATED how we are made to sympathize with Emma's character and her trauma only to find out she lied. Not only does she lie about the sexual assault once, but again when she is asked to write a statement, and again when asked to identify the assailant. Then she immaturely passes the blame onto the detective, saying it was his fault that she continued the lie by requesting a formal statement thing. And THEN she lies to her HR department. She was petty and extremely childish and a pathological liar. I could barely stand to read her sections.Anyways, I am furious that I spent five bucks on this book as well as precious time not only reading it, but thinking about the terrible characters after the fact. -10/10 would recommend. I have never felt this strong of a dislike towards a book.
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Rape, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Abortion, Ableism, Medical trauma, and Eating disorder
Minor: Drug abuse and Cancer
bbsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I really enjoyed how this book explored psychology and why certain characters were driven to do the things they did. It made me question the intentions of other characters as well.
However, there were elements to this book that made me really uncomfortable and probably not in the way the author intended. First of all the sexual scenes were really cringey, as was a lot of the writing. “Yes daddy yes” made me want to throw up in my mouth. I’m not trying to kink shame at all but something about that really didn’t sit well with me, maybe because I knew it was written by a man? I also hated when they wrote “so he’s like” before a character’s dialogue, it just didn’t work for me.
Another thing that made me really uncomfortable was the opinions on abortion and disabled children portrayed through this book. I think it is Jane who refers to abortion as “cowardly” but later decides to terminate if her baby is diagnosed with Down’s syndrome. I know this book came out a few years ago now but those opinions just felt outdated and unnecessary.
Emma’s character really grated on me, especially as she started to unravel and I was put off reading the book a couple of times by the thought of having to read more about her.
I wish they had ended the book with Emma’s letter, that last chapter from Jane just felt unbelievable and fell flat.
Overall a good mystery book that will keep you guessing until the end, if you can put up with the annoying characters throughout.
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Abortion
parttimerarebookdealer's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship