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nicole1832's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The three point of views interested me at first, but by the end of the book, I was only interested in one of them. Caroline's socialite life felt vapid compared to the hardships Kasia went through, and reading about Herta became uncomfortable by the latter part of the book. I had a hard time understanding how Caroline's and Herta's POVs justified their presence in the context of the overall story, which was at its heart really about Kasia. (Side note: the cover of this book is *very* misleading. It implies that the three POV characters eventually become friends. That is very much not the case.)
The book seems to want to be an examination of the emotions of these three women, but it always seemed to back away when things got most interesting. This was clearest in Herta's POV - she went from being horrified at what was happening at the camps to being complicit in it at what felt like breakneck speed. I understand not wanting to delve into a Nazi's POV, but if you're not going to fully explore it, why bother giving her a POV at all?
Meanwhile, Caroline's behavior and attitudes toward her romance arc were hard to understand. Her arc became frustrating to read toward the end and ultimately felt unnecessary. And Kasia had problems with PTSD and anger later in life that were glossed over and ultimately resolved in a way that felt insultingly simplified.
On top of all that, the writing felt trite and amateurish, easy to read but ultimately failing to create any kind of mood. (And this book had some of the dullest hetero romances possible.)
I was interested in the first half, simply because WWII stories, and stories about the horrors of the concentration camps, will always be powerful. But the importance of the historical subject matter is really all the book has going for it, in my opinion.
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lavenderlilacs1912's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Caroline Ferriday's former summer home is now a historic house museum, and my workplace. My rating comes from the fact that I read this for work, and while it was very well-written and a good read, it's not the type of book I'd normally go for.
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
silversparkles50'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest, Self harm, War, and Injury/Injury detail
beabates'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ginnygrde's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Torture, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail
arachnophobia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Torture, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail