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dizzzybrook's review against another edition
I love Melissa Broder and will continue to read/buy anything she puts out. However, I am extremely hit or miss when it comes to smut in books and unfortunately this one is just not working for me.
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, and Suicide attempt
ladybergart's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
bellebeaumont95's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was sort of a brutal read. I both recognized myself in Lucy and felt repelled by her, often simultaneously. It's very much a deep dive into neurosis, a little addictive, with interesting, tiring, funny, disgusting, moving writing spread throughout. Mostly I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending, since it's always tragic when depression has a death toll.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual content, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Car accident
bersblue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol
sperigo'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
4.5
Please heed the trigger warnings, but if you think you’re in the right headspace then this is a thought provoking read.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Grief, and Stalking
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, and Death of parent
limpitok'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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
henrytinker'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
The sex scenes the main character has with random men are cringy and uncomfortably relatable. The sex scenes with the merman are spicer than a lot of mainstream romance novels, but if you are expecting monsterfucking this is not the book for you.
I really didn't like how other women in the novel were described. I get that it's about the main character's internalised misogyny but it was excessive and didn't let up. Also didn't like how homeless people were described, or how Theo (the merman) was coded as disabled when on land and how the descriptions of him were uncomfortably ableist (use of the word handicapped, the main character liking that he is dependent on her etc.). I don't think the last was the author's intention, but it's right there and hard to ignore if you are disabled.
That's not to say it's bad or you shouldn't read it, it's just not going to be for everyone. I feel like this book was kind of marketed as a fun, weird romance when it's actually an existential novel about depression and love addiction. Also didn't particularly find it funny, but there are definitely some insightful observations in there.
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Classism
roraisabella'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
2.75
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol