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thestorydoer's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Narratively, this book is fantastic. Each plot point flows from one beat to the next with a steady pace throughout the novel which is an impressive feat. Each character with an ebb and flow of introduction is introduced at the exact right time. It has excellent climactic reveals and the dialogue is good.
The character of Oliphant herself is utterly fantastic. An interesting character whose real world often intersects with her trauma in fascinating ways. There is an excellent emphasis on her social skills which walks the line on 'unsociable' people and how they can form a charisma in their own right.
This is about as far as I can talk about this book without spoiling so here we go:
The idea to make Eleanor's mother a figment of her subconscious was also an interesting narrative choice but one I grew to accept. However, the idea of Eleanor having a sister is predictable. Roughly 200 pages predictable. However, this thought would need a reread because I can't distinguish whether this was intentional or not. That being said, the dialogue with the social worker is a masterclass in writing with missing information and had me fooled the first time around.
There is also the classic issue with mental health. Her overcoming of her mental health issues leans slightly toward triumphant more than progressive. This, of course, begins to raise questions about the realism of the portrayal of her mental health issues which I feel I am not experienced enough to discuss.
I need to read this again so take this summary with a grain of salt.
Overall, an interesting and loveable character study which suffers from a couple pitfalls which hinder this book from greatness. 4/5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
ell24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Medical content, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Sexual content
marigold82's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
cassie7e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book made me feel a lot of things, which is the marker of a good story!! Docked half a star just because it was slow for me to get into at first bc Eleanor is so judgmental at the beginning. We learn more about where these thought patterns come from and see her desire for connection and kind heart underneath. So some warm fuzzy feelings come from seeing her grow in that aspect. This book is also about the incredible importance of small interactions in daily life. Consistent tiny positive relationships with people we see regularly but don't know well lift the spirits so much, as many of us learned when covid cut all of those off.
Hearing about the tragic backstory is of course sad. But what struck me more from an autism* lens was the disconnect between what she thinks is acceptable social practice and what everyone else does. I can see how her judgments and blunt speech come off as rude to others, and also can see how others make little effort to tolerate her difference. She is judged in the way so many autistic people are judged - for not understanding social rules well and coming off as "rude" or weird even when she means well, for adhering too strictly to what are ostensibly social "rules" that everyone knows you're supposed to break; for adhering to rules she was taught as a child that aren't universal or are harmful; for being book smart but socially inept; for not having very good emotional intelligence (due to alexithymia that could have to do w autism AND trauma).... the way thoughts about her self worth and skills come directly from judgments others have thrown at her live on in her mind and make her question if she deserves to have relationships with people.
My heart broke at every interaction because people didn't understand her, because she was hard on herself, and because she comes from such lack that one person actually caring for her as a person means so much. Even as someone with so much richness in their life, her experiences struck a chord with struggles I've had and made me want to be a friend for her who stands up against any who would judge her as I and people like me have been judged and worse.
*While the book is clearly about trauma, no other neurodivergence is referenced. Whether or not she is meant to also be autistic, autistic readers may relate strongly to her.
Graphic: Grief and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child death, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Death of parent
lucimolri'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
4.75
Risas, indignación, momentos entrañables y también tristes. Por desgracia en las partes más dolorosas yo no estaba en muy buen estado de ánimo por lo que me afectó muchísimo, por suerte mejora (y yo también btw) y aunque se puedan predecir muchas de las incógnitas sigue siendo una lectura muy amena con final satisfactorio.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
itsbumley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
flowchelle's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
laurataylor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
zerkleoflife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
***Read the content warnings before reading.***
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual assault