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khloefrompluto's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This was a dark read. I couldn't put it down. The depths it goes to is a lot. The emotions you go through reading it is raw and feels very real. I had to check it was actually fiction multiple times.
Relating to a lot of Vanessa's feelings and confusion was both comforting and disturbing at the same time.
I couldn't not rate this 5☆'s as I believe it was very well written and can really make you see how easy it is to be in the situation and be made to feel it's your fault.
Although it's only March I can tell this will be one of my very top books of the year and I'll be thinking about it for quite some time.
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcohol and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
thegingerpire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Graphic: Suicide, Death, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Rape, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Emotional abuse
saramcaps's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I imagined the novel I wished I could have discovered alongside Lolita at fourteen, how it might have felt then to read a book that told her story rather than his. I wrote for my younger self. I didn’t try to transform her. I made myself take her seriously.
As a young lover of Lolita, this quote by the author really sums up my love for this book. We see Vanessa go through the depths of abuse and into a future misshapen around her trauma. It’s extremely well-written, truthful, deeply upsetting, and doesn’t shy away from some of the ugliest impulses you could put on paper.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Grief
nina_mk's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Rape, Animal death, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Grief, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Body shaming, Addiction, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Chronic illness
Minor: Classism, Fatphobia, Stalking, Eating disorder, Bullying, and Lesbophobia
eusteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The writing in this book had me hooked from the first page. Although the subject matter is definitely dark, no pun intended, this is the kind of book that one could easily read in a single sitting. The only reason I didn't is because life got in the way.
It was very interesting to see things from the perspective of a victim of abuse who uses coping mechanisms such as Vanessa's. I feel like most of the time, when we get to hear the victim's side in fictional pieces dealing with this subject, the victim is presented in a totally different way.
I can understand why this book is a favorite to many, but I personally don't think it's the kind of book most can re-read.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Grief, Sexism, Rape, and Misogyny
ruby_24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Death, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Addiction
hiraeth_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, and Animal death
_david_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I've never before found such a good story which shows why to the grooming victim, it doesn't seem like an unbalanced relationship any more than if they were both adult. As an adult it is very easy to understand why grooming is disgusting, but this book uses its point of view to show how teenagers may experience it. More importantly, how careful you need to be with talking to a victim.
I really am thankful how the author made the sex scenes feel off, eventhough it wasn't necessary for the story itself. I would feel disgusted if instead I would read about a teenager having sex with an adult and enjoying it fully.
I could talk about this book for days, it's just so good. My only confusion at first was why the narrator didn't realise that the groomer was being manipulative, eventhough flashbacks revealed that she already had doubts in the moments themselves. However, this was explained by two moments. The first
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Animal death
Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Vomit, and Pedophilia
Minor: Death of parent, Stalking, Drug use, Grief, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Suicidal thoughts
Very graphic descriptions of physical child abuse are mentioned in the last few pages, around p. 351 in the text starting from "Bridget moves back to Rhode Island". You can skip to the next alinea (2 pages further) without missing anything.bynnsreading'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, Trafficking, Self harm, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
lay_kone's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty