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hudsononaux's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Infertility, Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Racism, and Medical content
Moderate: Confinement, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
hckilgour's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
So I will say the book has good narration, likable characters, and an unsettling root in history. But the plot was… lacking in certain aspects.
My biggest issue was that it took over half the book for how the two women’s lives were even relevant to reveal itself. Which made me sit there and be like… what is the damn point. This could’ve easily been fixed but starting with grace/Wilhelmina being taken from Ruby, then backtracking to how it all started.
The epilogue left me wanted. Cool we know how Eleanor and family are doing. But then to have Ruby show up as the optometrist and that’s it. Like is Ruby still heartbroken by what happened, does she and shimmy ever work things out?
I’m also confused as to how the doctors thought a fourth miscarriage for Eleanor could’ve been life threatening?
The historical aspect of this book is extremely unsettling. Worldwide having a baby before marriage carries a stigma. But to thing young girls who found themselves pregnant were treated so poorly and literally had their children stolen from them is sickening.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Classism, Infertility, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Abortion
editoryalizing's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Trafficking, Infertility, and Gaslighting
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