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pkc's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
It’s interesting to read a book like this that’s effectively a slice of history from the perspective of those who were unlucky enough to live through and be directly affected by it. In this instance, the gross indecency act of 1885 is almost a tertiary watchman. It casts a pall across any happiness and opportunity that the characters in the book might hope to one day enjoy. The result is egregious bigotry, secrecy, and lies. The story follows Marion who meets her eponymous policeman - Tom, the brother of her best friend and falls instantly for him. Their relationship is complicated by the policeman’s relationship with Patrick - a museum curator. Their arrangement is uneasy and rocky and in the end can only lead to tragedy.
The story vacillates between Marion’s and Patrick’s perspective: the former reflecting on the events of her tumultuous marriage from the relative safety of 1999, while the latter’s perspective is told in the form of extensive diaries. The perspectives are beautifully woven together as events start to derail. I loved how Tom’s story was never told from his own perspective. It gives him the same air of unknowability that each narrator would experience as he retreated into his respective “other life.” Bethan Roberts’ writing is so skilled though that he is no less formed or sympathetic by the omission of his direct perspective
I found myself throughout abhorring the decisions made by the characters and felt anger throughout but ultimately, pity. The bulk of the story takes place in the late 1950s in Brighton, and while Brighton now proudly owns its title as the queer capital of Britain, at the time, it was as backwards as the rest of the country in its attitudes towards queer people, or “inverts”. The characters are placed in impossible decisions and face untenable quandaries in their pursuit of a happy and authentic life, wrestling between the ideal and the expected path.
This was an easy 5⭐️ and I’d recommend it to anyone. Some caution though, by its very nature it’s super bleak and infuriating from a 2024 vantage point.
The story vacillates between Marion’s and Patrick’s perspective: the former reflecting on the events of her tumultuous marriage from the relative safety of 1999, while the latter’s perspective is told in the form of extensive diaries. The perspectives are beautifully woven together as events start to derail. I loved how Tom’s story was never told from his own perspective. It gives him the same air of unknowability that each narrator would experience as he retreated into his respective “other life.” Bethan Roberts’ writing is so skilled though that he is no less formed or sympathetic by the omission of his direct perspective
I found myself throughout abhorring the decisions made by the characters and felt anger throughout but ultimately, pity. The bulk of the story takes place in the late 1950s in Brighton, and while Brighton now proudly owns its title as the queer capital of Britain, at the time, it was as backwards as the rest of the country in its attitudes towards queer people, or “inverts”. The characters are placed in impossible decisions and face untenable quandaries in their pursuit of a happy and authentic life, wrestling between the ideal and the expected path.
This was an easy 5⭐️ and I’d recommend it to anyone. Some caution though, by its very nature it’s super bleak and infuriating from a 2024 vantage point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Homophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Medical trauma, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Violence
binreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Let me preface this by saying, I did pick this book up so I could read before the movie came out because of my boy Harry.
This book is complicated for me, with characters who are extremely complicated. It's a very sad and tragic story. It's hard for me to completely like or dislike any of them. They all have their strengths and huge flaws. I finished the book and thought "...that's it? that's how it ends?"
I hurt for both Marion and Patrick. I actually really disliked Tom. For using Marion, who is seemingly was so blinded by love she would do anything for Tom, even when he didn't deserve it. And for not allowing himself to be true to himself, and be fully with Patrick.
I almost wonder if that's the exact reason he chose to marry her. He knew she was in love with him. Maybe he always knew, sensing her infatuation in their younger years. It wasn't fair to anyone involved. He loved Marion platonically but he should've at least tried to show he cared for her. He must've to some extent if he married her? Cut to the part where he finds out Patrick has been arrested and he has the nerve to break down to her. He never had the courage to tell her his true feelings, and yet I guess he suspected she knew? I hate how he gaslit her anytime she stuck up for herself. It was so infuriating. He was way too concerned with the proper way of doing things, his job and reputation and not the people in his life.
I think they were all pretty selfish in different ways. Patrick, for being the 3rd wheel in their marriage, full well knowing here's a woman who genuinely loves her husband and here you are having a secret relationship. Marion, for not leaving Tom and allowing herself to move on - instead writing the dreaded letter that ruins everything and hurts everyone. That was unforgivable. I'll never understand why she couldn't work it out with Tom or just leave him. And Tom, for unfortunately using both people for his own needs.
Heck! Tom should've married Julia then it could've been a Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo kinda situation. An understanding between them all to love whom they wanted in private. I sensed she was also queer and even rooted for Marion to have feelings for her.
I am really excited for the movie because I think it will portray Tom and Patrick's relationship better on screen. That's the one thing that confused me is I didn't expect this to be so much of Marion. I wish we got to see more from Patrick.
This book is complicated for me, with characters who are extremely complicated. It's a very sad and tragic story. It's hard for me to completely like or dislike any of them. They all have their strengths and huge flaws. I finished the book and thought "...that's it? that's how it ends?"
I almost wonder if that's the exact reason he chose to marry her. He knew she was in love with him. Maybe he always knew, sensing her infatuation in their younger years. It wasn't fair to anyone involved. He loved Marion platonically but he should've at least tried to show he cared for her. He must've to some extent if he married her? Cut to the part where he finds out Patrick has been arrested and he has the nerve to break down to her. He never had the courage to tell her his true feelings, and yet I guess he suspected she knew? I hate how he gaslit her anytime she stuck up for herself. It was so infuriating. He was way too concerned with the proper way of doing things, his job and reputation and not the people in his life.
I think they were all pretty selfish in different ways. Patrick, for being the 3rd wheel in their marriage, full well knowing here's a woman who genuinely loves her husband and here you are having a secret relationship. Marion, for not leaving Tom and allowing herself to move on - instead writing the dreaded letter that ruins everything and hurts everyone. That was unforgivable. I'll never understand why she couldn't work it out with Tom or just leave him. And Tom, for unfortunately using both people for his own needs.
Heck! Tom should've married Julia then it could've been a Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo kinda situation. An understanding between them all to love whom they wanted in private. I sensed she was also queer and even rooted for Marion to have feelings for her.
I am really excited for the movie because I think it will portray Tom and Patrick's relationship better on screen. That's the one thing that confused me is I didn't expect this to be so much of Marion. I wish we got to see more from Patrick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Outing, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Homophobia
Moderate: Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Suicide
lorena3585's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, and Police brutality
maxella's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.5
This book made me feel so many emotions.
I love how flawed and real every caracter was. I love how angry this book made me. I loved how the writer managed to tie all the ends together in the end of the book.
I think that at some point I managed to love and hate (with my whole heart) each of the main caracters.
But really, this has been such an informative book towards queer history and made me think about our current time and what we consider to be taboo right now, might just be the most normal thing in just a couple of years.
*SPOILERS*
My most favourite caracter has to be Julia. What a wonderful person.
I loved that the book didn't only concentrate on the gay aspect of the 50s, even if briefly, it also touched the subject of what it was like to be a lesbian/bisexual back then. Honestly I'd love to be friends with a person like Julia. She was such a cheerful, polite and uplifting caracter. I think it's great that in the end Marion actually decided to apologise to her and hear out her part of the story.
Patrick, oh they don't deserve you. Why would you ever fall for a guy like Tom, I don't get.
What a wonderful caracter. I especially loved his relationship he had with his mother. The sassiness was just so good.
I love how flawed and real every caracter was. I love how angry this book made me. I loved how the writer managed to tie all the ends together in the end of the book.
I think that at some point I managed to love and hate (with my whole heart) each of the main caracters.
But really, this has been such an informative book towards queer history and made me think about our current time and what we consider to be taboo right now, might just be the most normal thing in just a couple of years.
*SPOILERS*
My most favourite caracter has to be Julia. What a wonderful person.
I loved that the book didn't only concentrate on the gay aspect of the 50s, even if briefly, it also touched the subject of what it was like to be a lesbian/bisexual back then. Honestly I'd love to be friends with a person like Julia. She was such a cheerful, polite and uplifting caracter. I think it's great that in the end Marion actually decided to apologise to her and hear out her part of the story.
Patrick, oh they don't deserve you. Why would you ever fall for a guy like Tom, I don't get.
What a wonderful caracter. I especially loved his relationship he had with his mother. The sassiness was just so good.
"Good. Now what's going on in filthy old Brighton? Are you behaving yourself?"
"Certainly not."
She uncurled her best devilish smile. "Marvellous. Let's have a drink and you can tell me all about it."
I'd love to try one of his dishes. Some parts of the book where his food was being described, I got so hungry!
Me and him would have a lot to talk about since we're both interested in books, art, music and italian cooking. I hate seeing my favourite caracters being s**t all over but I guess it's harder to get the reader's sympathy when terrible things happend to terrible caracters.
I absolutely despised Tom's and Marion's caracters. So much problematic bulls**t going on there, so I'll keep it brief. Tom was a bitter, misogynistic ass bi**h and Marion was just straight up dumb smh.... Actually you know, Marion was also quite bitter most of the time, so they make a great match I guess.
I guess times were different back then so I'll forgive some of the dumbness even though I'm sure they would still be considered assholes back then.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
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