The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
syazahaniss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Moderate: Drug abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Infidelity, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Vomit
torlee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, and Vomit
marieeveparentroy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Cancer, and Death
skyba3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Drug use
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Death, and Cancer
mrmarshall591's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There was one prevalent issue that has my rating at a 4 star and it is something that I noticed originally from another review when I was earlier in the book- but it would have become apparent on my own. Over 15 years ago Natalieās siblings Lynn and Jake were sentenced to jail time as a result of illicit drug use which resulted in the death of their close friend. Natalie had been the person who called the cops both out of anger but also since Lynn really did hurt herself. The friend took his own life after realizing the cops were called.
Below this point has some minor spoilers.
Natalie is blamed for ALL of it. Even her mom doesĀ not talk to her for those 15 years, and her momās death is what leads to the premise of the book as she wants to bring the three siblings back together. Those sympathetic to her mention it having been an āhonest mistakeā. Everything is about forgiving Natalie, not addressing that even though she āratā them out that she did not set them up for anything- they were adults who honestly had Natalie in a dangerous situation. Lynn and Jake later react incredulously when Natalie did not call the cops during a time when it was absolutely critical to, due to all of that trauma of last time she called.Ā
While that did bother me, I really enjoyed the combination of drama, romance, nerdiness and a bit of mystery. It was a great read.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Stalking, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Excrement, Addiction, Blood, Grief, and Vomit
Minor: Confinement and Terminal illness
gabfont1102's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Vomit
booksngrannies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
bean_7088's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
People reconnecting and growing is a great trope.Ā
I loved the relationship between Natalie and her nephew. It was very sweet.Ā
There were a few annoying bits, the microscope miscommunication was annoying and I'm glad it didn't last too long.Ā
Paul sucks. Allan extra sucks.Ā
I did like the exploration of complicated family relationships.Ā
Graphic: Vomit, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Animal death
Moderate: Death of parent
Book circles around the death of a parent and a past night of drug use leading to a death. 1 violent domestic abuse scene near the end of the book. Everyone is ok in the end. Oh, and the main character likes to sketch dead animals.erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I was surprised to find myself as the target audience. The main character is a woman who has been settling for much of her life and has never chased up on her passion projects. She has allowed her partner to belittle her efforts and has fallen into a rut where it is normal for him to be the controlling partner in her life. When 2 life changing influences coincidentally shake her life up, she is given the headspace to reassess what she is doing with her life.
The main character is someone who is interested in drawing biological specimens. I vibed with her whole habit of finding cool minibeasts or bits of broken animal and wanting to keep records of them. FOR SCIENCE! I deeply identified with the feeling of having others disgusted by the objects of your fascination, wanting to get pictures of dead birds' feet, and also the problem of having baby mantises accidentally hatch in your bedroom.. or.. all over your bedroom.
This is also a story of family reconciliation. Getting an estranged family back together again as part of a family bequest makes this an inheritance story with some cool twists. It's got a lot more trauma than I was expecting. The sister is a kick-ass goth who is a trained mortician. I think I can see a theme in the way this family works.
Didn't really expect it to be so focused on romance though. I found the development of friendships and relationships in the story so captivating that I forgot to stop the book.. and then found I had oopsed a 1-day-read. Uhm.. yes I quite liked this one.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Drug use, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Stalking, Terminal illness, and Cancer
Minor: Vomit
dev921'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, and Vomit