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zoedonn'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: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
tdc27'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
mlb16's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
ecravens'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, 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
ivanaacosta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
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
aledslvr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail