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avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
I didn't see the major twist coming though looking back there were hints at it. This was however one very dark and emotional book, I cried a bit, which is rare, but I could relate to some of the depression/mental health aspects. That being said it was almost more of a romance than a thriller, with some SUPER toxic characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Toxic friendship, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Racism, and Emotional abuse
The racism was directed at some of the characters, not by them.solenophage's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was very bleak with a dark tone that never let up. It dives into the topics of grief, depression, suicide, and drug abuse, among others as it follows the main character, Chase, as she deals with the grief of losing her (ex-)girlfriend and life-long best friend, Lia.
I enjoyed the very flawed relationship between Lia and Chase. They were nearly always there for each other but very often not what the other needed. They'd been a part of each other's life for so long and seen sides of each other that no one else did, but they still fundamentally failed to understand or accept each other's struggles. The education system, the mental health system, and their own families really failed these girls, leaving them stressed and unwell with very few people to turn to other than each other and not in a position to be good for each other either. I will say though at times their arguments and misunderstandings get a little repetitive.
The ‘twist’ revealed at the end of part 1, though, was one of my least favorite plot devices. I guess I have to thank it for enabling the exploration of grief and guilt and all these characters' complexities since the story would have to be presented totally differently without it, but I still wasn't a fan. Hunter, who Chase had believed to be Lia’s new girlfriend, was not real. Chase had rewritten her memories to include Hunter to block out certain events leading up to Lia’s death and all of Hunter’s appearances after Lia’s death were her hallucinations. Kind of cliché, but more than that it took me out of the story as I was thinking about whether that made any sense with the event we’d been shown up to that point and, if I suspend my disbelief, had me questioning what of the story so far even mattered. There’s also the issue of blurring the line between genuine portrays of mental illness (or drug addiction) and unrealistic plot devices, which I find kind of uncomfortable even if it wasn’t too egregious here.
I enjoyed the very flawed relationship between Lia and Chase. They were nearly always there for each other but very often not what the other needed. They'd been a part of each other's life for so long and seen sides of each other that no one else did, but they still fundamentally failed to understand or accept each other's struggles. The education system, the mental health system, and their own families really failed these girls, leaving them stressed and unwell with very few people to turn to other than each other and not in a position to be good for each other either. I will say though at times their arguments and misunderstandings get a little repetitive.
The ‘twist’ revealed at the end of part 1, though, was one of my least favorite plot devices. I guess I have to thank it for enabling the exploration of grief and guilt and all these characters' complexities since the story would have to be presented totally differently without it, but I still wasn't a fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Child death
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