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forestfloor's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I read this in one sitting during a very long train journey, so it wasn't so challenging that I had to space it out over more than one day, but it was a very, very difficult read.
I'm struggling to work out how I feel about it, honestly.
I'm struggling to work out how I feel about it, honestly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Transphobia, Murder, Sexual violence, Gore, and Hate crime
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Drug abuse, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Vomit
phvntomstvrs's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I really wanted to like this book, I appreciated some of the introspection into Maddie's grief process but that's where my enjoyment ended.
The approach to the subject matter felt tone deaf, fetishistic, and focused way more on Maddie's grief over missing Charlotte rather than the atrocity she (Charlotte) experienced. I was under the impression that there would be more focus on Charlotte as this was meant to talk about the disproportionately high rates of transphobic violence for twoc, but the parts about her (except for details on her murder) feel superfluous and like romanticization, rather than a look into her character and why Maddie loved her so much. She didn't feel like a person outside of what happened to her.
There are many points in the story where the author goes into depth about the violence and mutilation Charlotte experienced that were incredibly painful to read for me, as a trans person intimately familiar with transphobic violence, and I can't help wondering how the author or no one on their team didn't understand that this is in incredibly poor taste. I had to put the book down at several points because I genuinely felt sick reading the descriptions, and I'm not generally uncomfortable at all with gore.
I felt like the concept was interesting but absolutely fell flat, favoring the terror value of transphobic violence rather than appealing to humanize us. No thanks.
The approach to the subject matter felt tone deaf, fetishistic, and focused way more on Maddie's grief over missing Charlotte rather than the atrocity she (Charlotte) experienced. I was under the impression that there would be more focus on Charlotte as this was meant to talk about the disproportionately high rates of transphobic violence for twoc, but the parts about her (except for details on her murder) feel superfluous and like romanticization, rather than a look into her character and why Maddie loved her so much. She didn't feel like a person outside of what happened to her.
There are many points in the story where the author goes into depth about the violence and mutilation Charlotte experienced that were incredibly painful to read for me, as a trans person intimately familiar with transphobic violence, and I can't help wondering how the author or no one on their team didn't understand that this is in incredibly poor taste. I had to put the book down at several points because I genuinely felt sick reading the descriptions, and I'm not generally uncomfortable at all with gore.
I felt like the concept was interesting but absolutely fell flat, favoring the terror value of transphobic violence rather than appealing to humanize us. No thanks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Grief, Murder, Racism, Rape, and Transphobia
torismazarine's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Death, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual violence, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Violence, Addiction, Body horror, Grief, Toxic friendship, Hate crime, Infidelity, Rape, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Alcohol, Blood, Self harm, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Lesbophobia
redbookpanda's review
The collected hair in a mason jar and the wish to collect finger and toe nails was one step too far for me.
mistakensmiles's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ashleyshaffey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
violamaple's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lorikan64's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
honoreads's review
challenging
dark
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
I did not like it. I wish I could but I can’t. First, the writing style is not one I’m into. I wanted to stop reading it almost as soon as I started. It felt bland to me.
Second, the only character of color is the dead one. I know why the author chose to do so, but Black and Indigenous people are already too often victims of hate. This was to talk about it, I don’t know how other BIPOC feel about it.
Thirdly, the dead character feels fetishized at times. Now, grief is a crazy experience and maybe that’s why the MC feels that way and describes her partner that way but it truly made me feel uncomfortable at times. I’ve grieved, never for a romantic partner, it still felt excessive. She talks a lot about her partner’s body parts, mainly her genitalia, and that too made me feel uncomfortable.
Fourth, she has a change of plan, which I saw coming but was still wild and she compares it to a rape. It doesn’t happen as such but still.
Fifth, her redeeming arc is fast and short. I’m not convinced by anything and I find her character horrible.
Overall, I’m not convinced by this book.
Second, the only character of color is the dead one. I know why the author chose to do so, but Black and Indigenous people are already too often victims of hate. This was to talk about it, I don’t know how other BIPOC feel about it.
Thirdly, the dead character feels fetishized at times. Now, grief is a crazy experience and maybe that’s why the MC feels that way and describes her partner that way but it truly made me feel uncomfortable at times. I’ve grieved, never for a romantic partner, it still felt excessive. She talks a lot about her partner’s body parts, mainly her genitalia, and that too made me feel uncomfortable.
Fourth, she has a change of plan, which I saw coming but was still wild and she compares it to a rape. It doesn’t happen as such but still.
Fifth, her redeeming arc is fast and short. I’m not convinced by anything and I find her character horrible.
Overall, I’m not convinced by this book.
drewsbooknook's review
i loved the story and the concept. but the writing style and tempo of the book was not for me. it was very slow and i found myself distracted while reading more often than not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Transphobia