A review by donnajah
Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

Did not finish book.
dark fast-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No

1.0

Upon initially picking up "Haunting Adeline", I made a somewhat impulsive decision to expand my collection of adult-oriented fiction. However, I am utterly disappointed with this work. Disappointed that it exists at all.

In full disclosure, the fault lies partially with me for not thoroughly investigating the book's content warnings. Even so, there are certain lines that simply should not be crossed. Romanticizing stalking, rape, and abuse is one of them. The excuse that it's "only fiction" does not hold water for me.

I found myself unable to finish this book, not because of the disturbing realities it presents, but because the main characters and the abusive dynamic between them was so horrendously sexualized. The sheer audacity of the author to attempt any kind of meaningful statement about the "horrifying underbelly of the trafficking world" strikes me as tone-deaf, disrespectful, and insincere given the nature of the narrative.

I can only imagine how actual victims of these crimes must feel about the existence of something like this. I tried my best to engage with the work, but ultimately decided it is not worth my time or any deep thought, as it struck me as shallow and "edgy for the sake of it."

The hypocrisy running rampant through this story is, in my opinion, simply poor writing if the author's goal was to create characters that the reader could like or feel attached to. Everyone in this book is, quite frankly, thoroughly unlikeable.

Now I am left with the dilemma of trying to figure out how to return this book and wipe off the gross feeling of having touched it at all. While I acknowledge the subjective nature of literary criticism, my impassioned response underscores the high stakes involved when authors choose to engage with such delicate subject matter.
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