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luna24601_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming and Bullying
cboddie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Gaslighting
nyix's review
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Rape
stephmcnutt28'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Abortion
swalk'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
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
bookcaptivated's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury
ellejo3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Stella is the seventeen-year-old daughter of a very powerful man in New America. After her chaperone, Sister Helen dies suddenly and mysteriously, she's assigned a new chaperone - Sister Laura, who opens Stella's eyes to a whole new world. When Stella's dad arranges for Stella to be married to a cop who's at least twice her age, Stella needs to make a choice - stay in New America or run.
The story is much tamer than The Handmaid's Tale, which I enjoyed because I found The Handmaid's Tale too intense. However, in some ways, it's more harrowing because the world in The Chaperone is so much more realistic and immediate. There's no ritualistic rape in this book, thankfully, though there is one scene where a character relays a story about a woman's assault.
While I enjoyed this book, I think it would have been better if it was split into a duology. The plot points felt too rushed, and Stella's realizations and decisions often didn't feel earned. For instance, right from the start, Sister Laura coerces Stella into breaking the rules, making Stella promise not to tell. Had there been more space, it would've made sense for Sister Laura to test Stella in small ways. Similarly, other plot points happened in such rapid succession that there wasn't enough space to explain or fully support them.
There were also aspects of Stella's belief system that didn't make sense in the world she was raised in. For instance, one of her friends is a lesbian. While I'm glad Stella isn't homophobic, New America is a country that's very much homophobic since women only exist to be subservient wives and baby factories. Yet it's never explained why Stella's beliefs go against the system that groomed her. While Stella talks about old TV shows and Sister Helen gave her some banned books, it doesn't fully explain Stella's beliefs. This could've been answered if some of the banned books Sister Helen gave Stella were queer, and Stella made this connection when her friend came out.
Speaking of her friends, at times, they felt more like props than characters. I wish we got more about them and their ending. For instance, has either of them ever wanted to leave New America because of their differences?
I also have questions about New America. It's portrayed as a fascist, evangelical-like country, and yet it's made clear that racism isn't an issue that doesn't align with that group of people. Yet, the book doesn't explain why. This is where slowing down the plot to allow for more world-building would've helped.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my thoughts.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
sydthereader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Pedophilia, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, and Classism