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hannahchung's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Bullying, Death, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Trafficking
leilakrzyzewski's review
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse and Sexual assault
mochimustreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
maggiemichael'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Suicide, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Murder, Mental illness, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
hjb_128's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Confinement, Murder, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Suicide, Torture, and Trafficking
meredithgrunig's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Sexism
danilippert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Rape, Gore, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicide, and Physical abuse
nika_nix's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Grief, Sexism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Rape
shelbylynnn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Starting with my likes:
The plot was really fast-paced and there was plenty of twisty suspense to keep me intrigued the entire time. It had some great commentary on systemic misogyny, rape culture, and the very real fears of abuse, manipulation, and violence that women face living in today's society. The narrator was complex and flawed. She struggled with her own complicity in the violence she endured. She felt guilt and shame as a victim and had a hard time differentiating what she wanted from what she felt she deserved. I honestly didn't see the final plot twist coming and it felt like a fitting conclusion to the book.
Now the dislikes:
The podcast/interview format took me out of the story a bit. The narrator, Shay, was supposedly recounting things that took place 8+ years ago but she is quoting full conversations word for word. It just wasn't realistic. It also felt very odd and forced at times the way the dialogue was written between Shay and Jamie. I mean, she sees her childhood best friend for the first time in 10 years and immediately spills all of her darkest secrets to him and his very popular, very public podcast...really?? The things she was sharing were not only uncomfortable and deeply personal, but also potentially very dangerous as she accuses powerful men of doing horrible things to her and her friends, yet she tells him everything with no hesitation and no worries about the potential consequences of her confessions. I would've much preferred if we had gotten flashbacks of what happened to her rather than her retelling the story. Shay's husband and her marriage in general also felt very unnecessary and could've been left out with no effect on the story. It just made me like her less and made her involvement with Jamie even more uncomfortable (which was complicated and weird to me for other reasons).
My biggest issue with this book was that some things just didn't make sense.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Infidelity, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Violence, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
whosajalon's review against another edition
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual violence