Scan barcode
pageturner19'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
This was a solid 3- 3.5 for me, I don't think this one was as dark as Ugly love or Verity but was equally a very powerful read.
The strength Sloane has to have to withstand Acer was heartbreaking. I think unless you've been in her position it's hard to fully see the emotional heartbreak of some of the scenes in this book.
A tragic end but I felt the emotions of the ups and downs of this story. Recommend for people who don't mind triggers are in a good mental state.
All characters I found to be very well written and felt like they were real people, not just fictional beings.
The storyline was medium to fast paced, easy to follow. The Audiobook voice actors helped to bring the characters emotions and personalities to life and I enjoyed it more than I would think to read it.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
monicaannlew22's review against another edition
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
taylorury's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
_haykey_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
asuna1930'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
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Murder
weshawl36's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
gwennnnn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Sexism, Police brutality, Abortion, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
jen1804's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
I understand why it was written the way it was through use of Hoover’s explanation at the beginning. But just because I understand why it was written that way doesn’t mean I enjoyed it being written that way. It all became really weirdly disjointed when we edged into the latter half of the book.
For me personally I didn’t really enjoy the ‘prologue’ and I could have done without it entirely. I understand that to some it may serve a purpose, describing Asa’s and Sloan’s relationship from his psychotic POV, and seeing how different scenes can be through his eyes compared to hers. But personally I feel as though Hoover achieved the display of Asa’s insane thought processes enough throughout the rest of the book, making the prologue a bit redundant and in fact just really grim to read. Like why did the sexual assault scenes need to go into such detail, as though we were reading a smut book. Like no, I don’t wanna read a smut scene about this guy.
I enjoyed the premise of the book, the plot was something new from Hoover, and it was really interesting to be inside the mind of someone continuously experiencing emotional, domestic, physical and sexual abuse, how trapped they feel due to their circumstances and how frightened they are. Though I have definitely read other books in the past which describe this state of being in a much more harrowing way, getting across the mindset of the victim in a much more heart hitting way.
I quite liked the romance between Luke/Carter and Sloan and they had a lot of really cute moments together. It was great to read a romance story with this obstacle of another person being in play - that being Asa. Although at times I felt that perhaps the ‘love’ between them was a bit too one dimensional if that makes sense? Perhaps I believe that the love was formed too fast and I needed it to be built on more.
That being said this book felt longer than necessary (?make it make sense?) and after chapter 45 and the epilogue I kind of lost interest. I think it could have been wrapped up/edited down better, but again I understand why it wasn’t.
Satisfactory ending? Eventually, yes, but why was the kid named Dalton and not Carter?!
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy