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maggiefrankhsu's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A disappointment. I read this bc I’m interested in stories about mothers who “abandon” their families and all the complexity that ensues. This just doesn’t work very deeply on that level, or any other. Paper-thin characters, other than Bernadette herself, who had complexity but the author basically abandoned all that nuance in the final pages. None of the turning points/flashes of insight from any of the characters made sense to me, particularly the minor characters (Audrey and Soo-Lin). In addition to these problems this book contains a lot of weirdly racist moments that troubled me. I did like the epistolary structure. The book was very well structured and fast-paced. I just wanted the author to allow Bernadette her complexity, in the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical trauma