Scan barcode
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide, Sexual content, Misogyny, Deportation, Gore, Toxic friendship, Blood, Infidelity, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
mariaminthebooks'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
3.5
Stating the obvious, the book flows like a river. The writing's great, descriptions' great yada yada yada...
Finished the book in 3 days. That says enough.
Now, the interesting stuff...
I found the main character insufferable, which is absolutely fine, characters do NOT have to be likeable, but Mellors tried SO hard to make her likeable by mentioning just how likeable she is (how convenient) which made me dislike her even more.
TW//
The book also features PRETTY heavy themes like alcoholism, drug abuse, animal cruelty, su!cide, self-h@rm, and the list goes on....without ever really diving into the complexity and complications of each struggle, thereby making the character's problems seem shallow (they are not!!!)
Along with having like a bazillion unnecessary characters, this, too, was unnecessary. Towards the end of the book, it felt as if Mellors was just throwing in as much trauma as she possibly can for that shocker effect. Unfortunately, that had a counter effect. It made me desensitised to much of the events in the novel.
traumatised characters ≠ unconditional sympathy
I've read books with way fewer events going on but had a much deeper attachment to the characters.
Frustratingly, this could have been such a good book....
Graphic: Infidelity, Chronic illness, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexism, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Blood, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Self harm, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Death, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt
livangel'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
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Cursing
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Medical content, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, Sexual content, Vomit, Suicide, Animal death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, and Physical abuse
arieli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Self harm and Domestic abuse
robsxo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Self harm, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
lidia710'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
love the writing style
a lot of TWs, sorry if i forgot some
Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Cursing, Dementia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Medical content, Sexism, Vomit, and Suicide
culown's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Terminal illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death of parent, and Self harm
kathshiroma's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Body shaming, Addiction, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Fatphobia
Lovely writing and beautifully nuanced characters. But it is so obvious when going into POCs’ POVs that the author is white. The conversation between POC characters, specifically the one between a Japanese man and a Black woman, are especially uncomfortable to read. There is also a chapter that focuses on a character’s weight loss journey, with many comments and themes that can be harmful. An overall gorgeous book, but another example of it being better for authors to either be more careful or to simply write what they know.wormgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Self harm, and Drug use
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
fvreads'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
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt