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ms_read's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
For me, the jumping through different time periods was confusing. However, when I reached the end I finally understood the need for it.
It’s a heavy hitter of a novel. Bringing you up close and personal with what the characters have gone through.
It’s a heavy hitter of a novel. Bringing you up close and personal with what the characters have gone through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Incest, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Alcohol
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
tsumugiaoba's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
dna_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It is a great YA novel for young adults and inexperienced readers. For adults who read regularly, it relies pretty heavily on tropes that would be better suited for the screen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
narrnaul's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, and Mental illness
pagesofplatypus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
This is a book that should be in every classroom. It is haunting and unrelenting. It is a book that will stick with you.
This is my second book from Tiffany D. Jackson, and no one can put you into the minds of characters like Ms. Jackson. The split povs between time kept me on the edge if my seat as I tried to piece together exactly what happened and when.
There's definitely a resigned knowledge of how this will end yet the reveal is still a gut punch. For me everything about Monday and her life was just utterly heartbreaking. I wanted to scream at most of those grown-ups to shut up and listen and do something.
You want things to have been so different than they were. And the reveal and aftermath is this horridly perfect mix of unsettling, infuriatiing, depressing, and healing.
If there's anything to take from this book, just pay attention. Pay attention to your friends. Pay attention to your classmates. Pay attention to the kids on your block. Just pay attention.
This is my second book from Tiffany D. Jackson, and no one can put you into the minds of characters like Ms. Jackson. The split povs between time kept me on the edge if my seat as I tried to piece together exactly what happened and when.
There's definitely a resigned knowledge of how this will end yet the reveal is still a gut punch. For me everything about Monday and her life was just utterly heartbreaking. I wanted to scream at most of those grown-ups to shut up and listen and do something.
You want things to have been so different than they were. And the reveal and aftermath is this horridly perfect mix of unsettling, infuriatiing, depressing, and healing.
If there's anything to take from this book, just pay attention. Pay attention to your friends. Pay attention to your classmates. Pay attention to the kids on your block. Just pay attention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying and Lesbophobia
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
‘A part of me was glad Monday wasn’t named Friday. It would’ve been too tragic.’
- Claudia
Most things I would like to say about this book would be spoilers and since I aim for spoiler free reviews I won't include them, hence making the review shorter than my usual reviews.
First of all, I really liked the plot (also the heavy themes were interesting) and how we got confusing timelines was (I think at least) supposed to foreshadow a certain plot twist which I thought to be quite cool. Also, I got 2 ideas how the time line in this book might work (I added it at the end of my review)
Another thing I liked was how not every character was likeable and not everything was perfect and we also got characters that were not one dimensional and we got more than enough story. I really liked the time leaps as they showed us the relationship with Monday and Claudia before the story started where Monday was already gone.
The healing process seems realistic and isn't downplayed. We don't get a 'after a week I recovered' kinda recovery we get one where it's open for the reader to decide how long it took. And we also still see while trying to recover that they still take steps back, but of course steps forward too.
Really disliked the foreshadowing as this ruined a bit the fun for me as I already knew the plot twists before they even came. Only one was there I didn't know of, but that was rather as I misunderstood the foreshadowing as Claudia being just nosy and jealous for absolute no reason.
Another thing I disliked which I mainly noticed at the end of the story was how the characters didn't always stay the same. One moment they were bad and the next they were good and kind again. I get it that not every person has always the same moods and we can also change as a person, but the switching was so out of control and at some point just didn't make any sense anymore. I really liked Monday at first until we got told stuff about her from April which I'm sure were true as I'm certain that it was a plot twist too, especially with that one thing that stood in that book, but then in the end we get a Monday that always 'loved' Claudia and saw her 'always' as a soulbond sister. And the way Claudia's mum didn't want to listen to her own child when she tried to explain where she was or was over controlling by letting Claudia ALWAYS leave breadcrumbs (letting her mum know where she was). And Claudia wasn't even better. I just say March the first The After, February the 2nd The After. And April? She wasn't good either. She knew what she has done. Jealousy consumed her. That's a sociopath. The only cool character throughout the entire book was actually Claudia's Dad. He was chill. Had reasons for disagreeing. And ALWAYS took great care of his child.
Here is a quick guide how I understood the time line and how you could use it too as many users said that they got confused with it
September
The Before (Before September)
The After (IN September)
One Year Before The Before (One Year ago shortly before September)
Example: 27. August > (The) BEFORE September
3. September > IN September
One Year Before the Before > from 27. August 2018 to 27. August 2017
All dates are only examples and we don't get a direct number or year date. We only get 'The Before' which I assume means before the month we are in and 'The After' which might mean exactly inside the month as the next chapter is already AFTER the previous month so that wouldn't make sense. The year leap I think is 1-2 (depends on chapter) years from the same month and date before.
This is only a theory and the words can actually mean something different, but it helped me with the time lines for this book!
———
The only month that didn't match the guide is December so I have a 2nd theory that we get the story pieces on purpose wrong so the titles are only meant to help us to understand in which order they are and it hasn't to do with before, after or in the month.
I also have a book guide for those who want to read books that are similar to this one.
Other books mentioned in this book:
1. Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
2. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
4. Push by Sapphire
These book all include either inc3st, sexual harrasment or even r@pe so make sure to read their content warnings before reading!
18. July 2024
- Claudia
Most things I would like to say about this book would be spoilers and since I aim for spoiler free reviews I won't include them, hence making the review shorter than my usual reviews.
First of all, I really liked the plot (also the heavy themes were interesting) and how we got confusing timelines was (I think at least) supposed to foreshadow a certain plot twist which I thought to be quite cool. Also, I got 2 ideas how the time line in this book might work (I added it at the end of my review)
Another thing I liked was how not every character was likeable and not everything was perfect and we also got characters that were not one dimensional and we got more than enough story. I really liked the time leaps as they showed us the relationship with Monday and Claudia before the story started where Monday was already gone.
The healing process seems realistic and isn't downplayed. We don't get a 'after a week I recovered' kinda recovery we get one where it's open for the reader to decide how long it took. And we also still see while trying to recover that they still take steps back, but of course steps forward too.
Really disliked the foreshadowing as this ruined a bit the fun for me as I already knew the plot twists before they even came. Only one was there I didn't know of, but that was rather as I misunderstood the foreshadowing as Claudia being just nosy and jealous for absolute no reason.
Another thing I disliked which I mainly noticed at the end of the story was how the characters didn't always stay the same. One moment they were bad and the next they were good and kind again. I get it that not every person has always the same moods and we can also change as a person, but the switching was so out of control and at some point just didn't make any sense anymore. I really liked Monday at first until we got told stuff about her from April which I'm sure were true as I'm certain that it was a plot twist too, especially with that one thing that stood in that book, but then in the end we get a Monday that always 'loved' Claudia and saw her 'always' as a soulbond sister. And the way Claudia's mum didn't want to listen to her own child when she tried to explain where she was or was over controlling by letting Claudia ALWAYS leave breadcrumbs (letting her mum know where she was). And Claudia wasn't even better. I just say March the first The After, February the 2nd The After. And April? She wasn't good either. She knew what she has done. Jealousy consumed her. That's a sociopath. The only cool character throughout the entire book was actually Claudia's Dad. He was chill. Had reasons for disagreeing. And ALWAYS took great care of his child.
Here is a quick guide how I understood the time line and how you could use it too as many users said that they got confused with it
September
The Before (Before September)
The After (IN September)
One Year Before The Before (One Year ago shortly before September)
Example: 27. August > (The) BEFORE September
3. September > IN September
One Year Before the Before > from 27. August 2018 to 27. August 2017
All dates are only examples and we don't get a direct number or year date. We only get 'The Before' which I assume means before the month we are in and 'The After' which might mean exactly inside the month as the next chapter is already AFTER the previous month so that wouldn't make sense. The year leap I think is 1-2 (depends on chapter) years from the same month and date before.
This is only a theory and the words can actually mean something different, but it helped me with the time lines for this book!
———
The only month that didn't match the guide is December so I have a 2nd theory that we get the story pieces on purpose wrong so the titles are only meant to help us to understand in which order they are and it hasn't to do with before, after or in the month.
I also have a book guide for those who want to read books that are similar to this one.
Other books mentioned in this book:
1. Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
2. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
4. Push by Sapphire
These book all include either inc3st, sexual harrasment or even r@pe so make sure to read their content warnings before reading!
18. July 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Torture, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Dementia, Abandonment, and Alcohol
forza0930's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Murder
forkindope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Grief, Murder, and Lesbophobia
apuzzledbooklover's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Heavy, yet powerful story. Need some time to digest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol