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leahkarge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
phantomgecko's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Think of the whiniest, most foul-mouthed little incel you can, and that's this dude. Note how many times he refers to women as objects. How many times he reduces Beck to her sexual availability or genitals. How many times he misinterprets media to justify his actions. Also, lol at how judgmental he is about books. I think this is a more fun variation than being super judgmental about music or comics or video games.
Joe is seven layers of delusional, from thinking Beck is obsessed with him to awaiting the collapse of the internet so he can lord it over with his typewriters to thinking he ever helped anyone. However, some of what I thought he was making up at the beginning turned out to be close to the truth. Like how he says that Beck loves attention and is an exhibitionist. Still, I'd categorize him as an unreliable narrator.
Beck isn't a great person either. She has real issues and a way annoying personality. Joe's observation that she wants to be a writer more than she wants to write is spot on. Nevertheless, a victim is a victim whether or not they are "innocent" or you personally dislike them.
One of the book club questions at the end asked something along the lines of, "did you find yourself wishing Joe would be punished for his crimes or did you want him to get away with it?" And like... ?????????? If you found yourself sympathetic to Joe's self-imposed, imaginary, selfish plight, maybe you need help too?
I honestly cannot adequately express how despicable the main character is. I understand that that is the point. I feel dirty for reading this book, tbh, and I'm not continuing the series. Joe is too accurately written, and that's too depressing for me.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
theyannibannireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is one of those times I like the book but dislike everyone in it. Think most of the like comes from the authors writing, its good. It feels like reading a diary. So maybe that's why it's good, its a easy read even better if your listening to the audiobook, which I did.
All in all I liked it but just to clarify this is not a romance book its a horror book everything that happened to the women in this book is tragic. Joe should be in prison.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
jessw17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Torture, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
aeai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming and Bullying