Reviews

I'm not sure how to feel about this book. The beginning dragged a little but then the story picked up and I was swept away. I had a hard time believing the details of Lacey May's world--a grandma who plays with taxidermied mammals? A lawn painter? It felt like the author was trying too hard to be zany. Even the main character's name, Lacey May, seemed like a parody of a rural low-income white girl's name. There were some very insightful moments sprinkled into the novel, however. And when I read things like this I'm always reminded how often adults fail children and how common and unacceptable that is. It's good to be reminded so we can all be on the lookout.

ETA: I feel like I have read this story before, even as a memoir, so this novel didn't say anything new.

msilkwolfe's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

The entire time while reading this book I had no idea what I thought of it or what my opinion was. I ended up liking it, despite its strangeness. I was rooting for Lacey May from the beginning, even if at times I didn’t agree with her beliefs or choices. Sifting through some of the bizarreness of the story (cults), it discusses our chosen family, and how we learn to persevere despite certain circumstances.

madelineafitzgerald's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

sydneygraceo's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

netflix_and_lil's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

I think I've come to a place of acceptance that cult books aren't for me, but Godshot did evoke many things in me. Horror, hopelessness, emptiness. I kept waiting for things to get better, and I suppose the point of the story were that there was good in the small moments, the few kind people, the catharsis of Lacey May becoming self-aware. But the situation was so dire and bleak that I had to struggle to get through it.

Credit where credit is due, the world-building of Peaches and it's cult was so well done that I could taste the warm soda. The description of a land ravaged by droughts and the unpleasant little details about each character fleshed out the story even though the story was unbearably grim.

mpoydock's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

aleidareads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad medium-paced

2.5

Boring and overwrought

More...