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livviolet's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Cancer
readwithbec_'s review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
2.0
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Thoughts: I attempted to like this book, yet its overall chaotic nature hindered my likeness for it. There were some parts of the book where I did not want to put the book down, but the majority of the book was a massive push to get myself through it. The Voss family's dysfunctionality was noteworthy, and the narrative encompassed a range of themes, creating a whirlwind of events. It was an easy read, but regrettably, is not my favourite CoHo book thus far.
Synopsis: The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptised Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the motherβs former nurse, the little half-brother isnβt allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, thereβs Merit. Merit Voss collects trophies she hasnβt earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into herβuntil she discovers that heβs completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix. Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that sheβs never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.
Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.
β β βββ
Thoughts: I attempted to like this book, yet its overall chaotic nature hindered my likeness for it. There were some parts of the book where I did not want to put the book down, but the majority of the book was a massive push to get myself through it. The Voss family's dysfunctionality was noteworthy, and the narrative encompassed a range of themes, creating a whirlwind of events. It was an easy read, but regrettably, is not my favourite CoHo book thus far.
Synopsis: The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptised Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the motherβs former nurse, the little half-brother isnβt allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, thereβs Merit. Merit Voss collects trophies she hasnβt earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into herβuntil she discovers that heβs completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix. Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that sheβs never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.
Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.
β β βββ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
karifaye's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
denijaaa_s's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Mental illness
viktoriadoyle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
The characters in this book are captivating and leave you constantly pondering their personalities and true identities. Each character harbors secrets that come as shocking revelations. What sets this family apart is their unique dynamic, as imperfect individuals grappling with their own hidden struggles. One aspect I particularly appreciate is how the author provides resolutions for each character's problems, delving into their complexities throughout the story. It's refreshing to see these issues being openly addressed and discussed. For instance, the exploration of Merit's suicidal attempt and her initial denial of being depressed was thought-provoking. As the story progresses, her journey towards healing is portrayed through Luck's list and her realization that everyone is striving to overcome challenges, while emphasizing that there is no shame in being depressed. Sagan's maturity is another highlight, as he navigates Merit's complex personality with patience and encourages her to love herself before pursuing their unspoken connection. This book is truly remarkable, leaving readers with lingering thoughts long after they finish reading. The intensity at the beginning gradually eases towards a satisfying resolution, which is a testament to the author's skillful storytelling. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, although it's important to note that there are trigger warnings associated with it. It offers profound insights into various life issues and prompts honest contemplation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Infidelity, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Body shaming
anjelicanarvaez's review against another edition
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death and Abandonment
nbreezy17's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death and Vomit
kat_rowlen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
Would make for a good beach read! Will this book win any literary awards? Probably not. Will it keep you entertained? Definitely! The chapters were too long, but I didnβt mind it as much as I normally would because Iβd get so lost in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
lindsayvale's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Alcohol
abbiemurphy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
I liked this book, itβs got a few flaws however. one main one was the amount of incest involved, it was a bit offputting. however, it was still a good read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death and Death
Minor: Terminal illness