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honeybeewitched87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Violence, Torture, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
horizonous's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I don't know, in comparision to Sadie this was such a letdown.
Graphic: Car accident, Emotional abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Infidelity
◦ Mental illness = Depressionashleycmms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Medical trauma, Medical content, Abandonment, and Body horror
Moderate: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Grief
onemamareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Violence, Torture, Medical content, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Blood, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction and Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and War
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Grief, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders
gbyd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a very high-intensity thriller. This deals with some really tricky subjects, and does a good job expressing the feelings of loss, grief, and loneliness that are preyed upon by Lev and his cult. Though I can't really say I liked the characters, I did enjoy reading about them, and I was on the metaphorical edge of my seat while racing through this book! I really enjoyed the way this ended, as well. I'm definitely scoping out this author's other books to read.
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Pregnancy
vlntnmz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
gracefulbooks'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
4.5
So this story follows the alternating perspectives of two sisters who are estranged. Bea the older of the two checked out at some point and joined a group called The Unity Project where she felt like she found her purpose. Her little sister Lo, holds nothing but resentment for The Unity project and wants to see it exposed for taking her sister away from her. As a journalist, she dives deep into The Unity Project so she can expose it for what it truly is...a cult.
Probably not the best description but I don't want to spoil too much about this book.
But to put it simply Summer's writing, per usual, grabbed me the second I began reading this book and didn't let me go until I hit the end pages. I felt such massive frustration throughout this as a Christian because I absolutely HATE seeing God's existence used in such a manner. So I just felt so utterly frustrated and aggravated throughout the entire book-BUT that was the point. You were supposed to be aggravated as the reader seeing all these mistakes and choices be made by both sisters.
Also being a weird fanatic for cults. Having listened to countless podcasts that delve into cults as well as watching a bunch of documentaries this is a massive interest area of mine so to have this book show up being right up my alley. I knew I needed it and I enjoyed every awful moment of it.
This book is not easy to read or process at times. And what is more worrisome is that some parts
To read some of his dialogue and have it seem so level-headed...was so frustrating. As the reader you know it's fake and it's a trap but Lo doesn't. It just-the emotions I felt while reading this was so visceral. It's like being Arthur throughout this story or Lo at the beginning and wanting to desperately keep your loved one safe from this bullshit but them not seeing the truth of it. And then watching them fall into it and let it brainwash and consume them.
The horror of it.
I know some people were let down by thinking this story would follow a cult that was more...upfront with their messed-up practices. But to me, this showcased the more dangerous cults that go under the radar because they can also easily just come across as do-gooders who are religious.
I really appreciate what this book but damn was so much of it messed up and so many parts of it aggravating at the same time.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Car accident, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Murder
Minor: Death and Death of parent
crackedspines_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
PLOT: There were so many twists and turns in this book. Every time I thought I was at the height of the action the pace would pick up more. And it all climaxed in this horrifying, breathtaking moment when everything fell into its place.
STRUCTURE: The non-linear timeline was really effective for this book. The way different details were revealed from the different POVs was really interesting! Summers basically had two timelines going at once and yet it never got confusing.
THEME: Obviously this book explores a lot of themes about cults, but it also explores family and authenticity and truth and legacy and trauma and identity...Summers wove it all together beautifully.
CHARACTERS: This book contains my most hated character and yet he is also a really good character. Lev is one of those characters who you absolutely despise as a person but are intrigued by as a character. And I really liked the character development present in Bea and Lo. Both girls are complex and layered and not “likable”/palatable and I love them so much.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, and Torture
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: Blood
cult; miscarriage is implied