Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Pretending

I've been thinking about this book after I came across someone saying that they didn't know who was the target audience for various reasons.

It did trigger my trauma and I didn't even notice. I think this may be not for you if you've gone through something similar and haven't processed it yet (although this is supposedly on how she healed?????).

I hated the depiction of Gretel, it felt very reverse pick-me. It didn't relly feel like the criticism of men's idea of women that it was trying to be for me personally. April felt a bit self-centered; I understand she was feeling insecure because of Gretel's "coolness" but the hate felt excessive.

Besides, I think the book should have some warnings about its main theme (sexual trauma). I learned about it from an interview so I was aware but I don't know about picking this up at the shop, you'd probably not have a clue.
The synopsis is pretty bad at describing the content and I felt that April needed to grow more as person because the way she treated Josh and the resolution felt undeserved.

Overall, it still had a positive outcome for me, I started volunteering at a Center against Domestic Violence, so I fewel like it was worth it, personally. And my original review still applies.

-- 1st review --
(TW) I enjoyed this book quite a bit and I finished it so fast. I think the end was a bit underdeveloped, I was expecting way more before they reached a resolution. Overall it was a really good read, and it pushed me to search for ways to help people in regard to abuse and rape in my home country.

I think in the beginning I was worried about and not enjoying the generalizations being made, but I understand being a young adult myself with mostly positive encounters both with men and relationships, that other people can have really horrifying experiences in those matters and cope with them differently.

I think this is a very important topic to discuss and that was treated with delicacy in this book. I think it lacks diversity but I understand the world depicted may be based on the author's perspective.

The characters felt very real to me especially Josh and April. Although April is somewhat over the top I can understand her actions.

Content Warnings

florencia's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Please read this book. It's angry and full of all the bullshit that women have to hear and go through.
Holly Bourne is one of my favorite authors and she always slaps you with the truth.

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