shrub_club's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I absolutely loved this book, but I completely understand why others didn’t. With heavy themes of religious trauma, abuse, addiction, and violence, this would not be for everyone, and I can see why to others it might seem heavy-handed and preachy. However, to someone who lived a life like Braden’s (albeit with less extreme, but still present physical and verbal abuse), this book doesn’t just hit home. It hits me so hard it makes chills run down my back and stops me in my tracks. I have many personal anecdotes that let me relate to this story very well, and although this book isn’t perfect, I think it was incredibly well-written
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Murder, Addiction, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Drug use
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