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emma_sky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Death, Bullying, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Stalking, Sexual assault, and Drug use
larareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Murder, Police brutality, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
goodcoffeeandbooks'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Domestic abuse
lizamwhelan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pandemic/Epidemic, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
moriak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment
czoltak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Rape, Cancer, Sexual assault, Racism, Sexism, and Fatphobia
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, Self harm, and Eating disorder
annreadsabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.75
First, the good: I think this would've been great as a whodoneit mystery on its own. I was pretty interested in piecing together who the actual killer was and what happened on that fated night. AND I think that there is something to be said about the bit of commentary Makkai has in here about folks' fascination/obsession with true crime (podcasts, shows, etc.), often in ways that can become harmful and can obstruct healing of victims' families.
But truthfully, I feel this book bit off a more than it could chew and the execution suffered as a result. It tries to do a bit too much without doing much of anything--there's commentary on true crime, the endless hoops of the justice system, white saviorism, you name it, but it all feels half-baked and not terribly thought out to any meaningful degree. This book ultimately felt quite preachy and didactic, with an urgent and self-important tone that didn't really seem to match the substance being conveyed--the substance being relatively straightforward, surface-level white feminist discourse.
This all might seem a bit harsh but I do just think that the author is a great writer and so could have done much more with this book, so I'm quite disappointed. Then again, though, I would've been far more interested to read a book written by a Black person on this subject, as I found the hyper-self conscious white woman handwringing about racial issues to be quite tiresome.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Adult/minor relationship
twoesplease's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual harassment, Rape, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death
late_nite_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Blood, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Drug use, and Eating disorder
karen_lo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Sexism, Violence, Rape, Racism, Infidelity, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Alcohol, Death, Sexual content, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Cancer, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Mental illness, and Fatphobia