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betherinahq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love how Rachel Joyce has this way of writing such uplifting fiction without being too twee or trite. I think it’s because the main characters, while loveable, carry a sadness with them that we all do with every life experience we unlock.
Like Harold Fry, she uses the “journey” style story to get these two women, who were born in an era where women didn’t travel the world in search for rare beetles, to reconcile their pasts and become empowered.
A really good read!
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Torture, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, War, Classism, Colonisation, and Animal death
argentdoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Torture, Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Miscarriage, Bullying, Infertility, and Suicide
abbie234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Torture, Animal death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Violence, and War
Prisoner of warjhbandcats's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
At first both women are caricatures, both completely wacky in their own, very different ways. As we learn more of the back story of Margery and Enid, they become sympathetic characters, each having desperation and tragedy in their lives. Their friendship forms gradually as each comes to rely on the other, and they see the real person beneath each other’s shell.
This novel blends madcap adventure with a love story of friendship, and I loved it. One caveat: I felt the subplot of Mr Mundic was a distraction from the real story of Margery and Enid. He deserves a book all to himself.
Graphic: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Torture, War, Animal death, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Vomit, Blood, Body shaming, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Sexism, Classism, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Stalking
aargot1's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, Stalking, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide, Gun violence, War, Torture, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Homophobia
hollygon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide, Murder, Blood, Medical trauma, Gun violence, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Sexual content, Torture, and Infidelity
alayamorning'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
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Grief
bobbijopmh'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
4.0
“We are not the things that happened to us. We can be what we like.”
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Gun violence, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Torture
isis's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Margery and Enid are both such well-developed characters, both with their own amusing eccentricities. I’m always a fan of The Odd Couple type friendships, and that’s exactly what this is. The impact they made on each other's lives were invaluable, but I especially enjoyed watching Margery become a totally different person by the end of the story.
I felt this story is a perfect blend of character and plot driven with good medium pacing. Rachel Joyce not only had me falling for Margery and Enid, but also for the setting of New Caledonia. She wrote so vividly of the area that I felt as if I had visited the area myself.
I think this is a great choice for anyone who enjoys adventure/explorer stories, unlikely/odd couple friendships, and well-developed characters.
CW: Suicide, miscarriage, POW torture, racial slurs, domestic violence, body shaming,
Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for the review copy
Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
saramschacht's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Torture
Minor: Death