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lpdx's review against another edition
The main character/narrator is extremely unlikeable and just kept getting worse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
nicolepaul_ine's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I’m just so confused as to what I just read. .. I made some notes halfway through reading this that I’ll post here:
White teeth
White teeth
I don’t like the cliches of queer life - might be the reality for the author though but I wish the book had taken the portrayal of queer beyond the stereotypes that are already out there…
The characters are super unlikeable which I understand is the point but I personally just get more excited to read a book with at least one character I like.
Also there are a Bunch of random events that never get mentioned again - attempted kidnapping, swimming lessons where sammie cheats on her wife, therapy and stalking the neighbor (okay most of these come back later in the book but like too late??)
The amount of times there is drunk driving blows my mind - is this normal to some people? I don’t understand it at all!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
leah_alexandra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm surprised I liked this as much as I did. This was a really well-crafted story. It was dark, and tense, and the tension never feels resolved, but it's clear that effect is purposeful.
On further reflection, I do think the book suffers a bit from under-development of the secondary characters, especially Samson.Based on the set-up and first part of the book, I expected it to go in a darker, kind of horror-esque direction, with Samson's odd behavior. But more and more I think his behavior was just being a kid who felt misunderstood, considering he evens out as a teen, and the second part of the book goes in a more typical direction of describing a woman's destructive tendencies.
On further reflection, I do think the book suffers a bit from under-development of the secondary characters, especially Samson.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Kidnapping, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
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