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ellenewt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Sexual assault
sparklefarm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
- Could have done without the entire
Matt-Mary storyline. It's not like it was portrayed in a good light, I just prefer my books without that kind of yuck. - Relatedly I never want to hear the word
penis again. - In general this book felt overwritten. So. Many. Similes.
- The writing on autism felt borderline offensive. So much talk about wanting kids to be ~normal~ and the only characters who had a different outlook were vilified. I did not get this sense from Happiness Falls, which also deals with autism, so I hope there has been some learning in the meantime.
- Incredible audio narration.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, and Rape
Minor: Grief
ariana3'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Plot summary:
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Infertility, Infidelity, Car accident, and Alcohol
ehost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
amorg2013's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide and Car accident
cigarettelouie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
emmaisabelle'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
That said I think the way Kim explores the truth of what happened, the way people invent stories to fit their own narratives and emotions, and how witnesses’ memories are formed by the complex context leading to the events of the book was fascinating. While it was sometimes jarring to switch POV so many times, I do think Kim is really good at managing all those different opinions, memories, thoughts, personalities, etc. She really raises interesting questions about truth/memory, guilt/innocence, and parenthood. I just could not handle the rampent ableism nor did I really see the point of going that hard on it. I’m just not sure the book needed that much hatred of autistic people in it lol, even if it’s pretty clear Kim is not her characters and doesn’t share their thoughts.
Overall an engrossing courtroom thriller-mystery but just too put off by the incessant ableism of the characters. If you read, just be prepared for two hundred pages of characters discussing how autistic children are problems that need to be fixed.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent
megan_martha_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book read fast because it is a courtroom / family drama. But it’s really heavy. I felt sad and disturbed after finishing it, like you feel after watching law and order SUV or multiple episodes of criminal minds.
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
samanthamaejane's review against another edition
0.5
Graphic: Ableism
cadeyladey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Ableism, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault