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lauren_shilling's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
5.0
This is clearly one of my favorite books of the year. All of the characters were absolutely incredible, and I was actually really surprised by how much I loved Marion. I went into this expecting to really love Tom and Patrick, and I loved them just as much as I thought I would, but I loved Marion even more. Her character and her development was just incredible. This book was heartbreaking, and overall just one of the best books I have ever read. Truly, it was unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
mpedroncelli6's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beautifully written reflection of what intolerance can do to damage not only a relationship, but a life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
miaisabelle7's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
khaynie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Came for Harry Styles, stayed for the plot. A great read about hidden love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
higherwvrlvck's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
To sum up this book in one word: devastating. The cover and synopsis could tell you that much, but reading it, you feel it in many different ways you may not expect. Besides her beautiful prose, Bethan Roberts narrative structure was really clever and interesting. Most of the novel is told retrospectively from Marion's point of view. Two of the five parts are written/narrated by Patrick. While all three characters-Patrick, Tom, and Marion-are apart of the story, it really feels like Marion has the main voice. Thus, she seems to be the protagonist of this novel. But having Patrick as also another voice highlights their common subject, Tom or My Policeman. In the acknowledgements, Roberts mentions the main sources she used to write the novel, but the novel has also been advertised as "Inspired by the life of E.M. Forster and his relationship with his long-time companion Bob Buckingham and his wife." Reading this in the synopsis is what really convinced me to read My Policeman, having watched Maurice (1987) and knowing a bit about Forster's life. It definitely lived up to that selling point, but I wonder where the line is drawn between fact and fiction. Overall, really loved this book, but I found it a bit slow at times, Marion was a bit of an annoying narrator/character, and while the ending absolutely broke my heart, the story still felt incomplete with some practical gaps in the plot line.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Homophobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual content
Minor: Lesbophobia and Abortion
Besides one scene towards the end of the novel in Part IV, I don't think there's anything violently graphic, but there are plenty of sex scenes that go into moderate detail. This is the only scene that might be severely triggering for contemporary readers. The attitudes and cultural values of late 1950s Britain are present, so that includes misogyny which I think Bethan Roberts begins discussions about the possible tensions between Patrick and Tom's misogyny (and from characters like Sylvie's husband) and Marion's homophobia several times that are very interesting.junebug_186's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Suicide
Minor: Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
kadrireads_'s review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
spring_rain's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Hate crime
leahhmorriss's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I first read this book after finding out Harry Styles (I’m a huge fan) was going to be playing the role of Tom. I definitely was not prepared for the rollercoaster that this book was. I absolutely bawled my eyes out for days after finishing it. It was all I could thing about.
I loved Patrick’s character so much. Tom and Marion, however, I hated. They were both incredibly selfish and just not very good people. Patrick deserved so much better.
Update - The movie destroyed me just as much as the book did. I’m actually about to start crying again just thinking about it.
I loved Patrick’s character so much. Tom and Marion, however, I hated. They were both incredibly selfish and just not very good people. Patrick deserved so much better.
Update - The movie destroyed me just as much as the book did. I’m actually about to start crying again just thinking about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Violence
lily_sutton's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail