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hartas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
whatsemmyreading's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. What a wild thriller. Some parts of it were so hard to read, and some were downright creepy. I was shocked it ended where it did - which makes sense since I just noticed there’s a sequel.
sasko's review
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
nicolecoyle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Death
Minor: Murder, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
1.0
Oh good grief, this book was irritating. It starts off seeing a severely abused young child being presented to doctors in an American Emergency Room, and follows what happens through the next year or so of her life.
You know the kid's going to be messed up, so who do social services place her with? An older upper middle class couple who have no experience with children (41 is old to have your first child I think). And of course chaos ensures.
The foster/adoptive mom is more realistic about the future, though why she put up with what happens so long (when it clearly isn't working) is beyond me. Story I guess. Having her say "This child is so beyond messed up, I don't know what to do" on page 20 would kill the book. The husband, in comparison is so beyond irritating, so wilfully blind in his love for the child, I'd have had no problem grabbing him by the hair (or throat) and forcing him to get real. The only reason he's this stupid is story I guess. I was sure there'd be some twist in the tail, explaining why he was like he was, but there wasn't.
Another issue I have is with the social worker, whose behaviour, and wilful blindness, is just as infuriating as the parents. I don't want to give anything away, but no. Just, no.
Other reviews have mentioned their displeasure at a lack of ending, which I understand, but have less of a problem with. It allows the reader to make up their own ending.
So, all in all, not a good book. When you dislike all the main characters, you know you'll struggle with a book!
You know the kid's going to be messed up, so who do social services place her with? An older upper middle class couple who have no experience with children (41 is old to have your first child I think). And of course chaos ensures.
The foster/adoptive mom is more realistic about the future, though why she put up with what happens so long (when it clearly isn't working) is beyond me. Story I guess. Having her say "This child is so beyond messed up, I don't know what to do" on page 20 would kill the book. The husband, in comparison is so beyond irritating, so wilfully blind in his love for the child, I'd have had no problem grabbing him by the hair (or throat) and forcing him to get real. The only reason he's this stupid is story I guess. I was sure there'd be some twist in the tail, explaining why he was like he was, but there wasn't.
Another issue I have is with the social worker, whose behaviour, and wilful blindness, is just as infuriating as the parents. I don't want to give anything away, but no. Just, no.
Other reviews have mentioned their displeasure at a lack of ending, which I understand, but have less of a problem with. It allows the reader to make up their own ending.
So, all in all, not a good book. When you dislike all the main characters, you know you'll struggle with a book!
midnightrain717's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0