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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I read this because it was one of those "If you liked The Butterfly Garden you'll like this!" suggestion, but I didn't like this. The premise was well thought out, but from someone who was raised in "purity culture" this just screamed of "Christian afterschool special" to me.
First let me be clear: I have no problem with people making the decision to wait until marriage to have sex. That is a personal decision that we all get to decide on and I would never take that away from anyone. However, what I do have a problem with is the little sprinklings of proselytization throughout the writing implying that (I searched for this direct quote everywhere, but couldn't find it, so I'm paraphrasing) once you've lost your virginity you're something "less than" and no one will want to marry you because you've been ruined. Granted, these words were coming form a person who had been kidnapped and raped, but it was stated with such finality that it really stuck with me. It should have at least been addressed after the fact, but then there's the whole issue of her mom "wanting things to get back to normal" and the rest of the book was colored by that one phrase and it gave it the vibe of "everyone was making do with a broken human".
I've had enough of that from the church that I grew up in. F*k that noise. Definitely not recommended for anyone with PTSD trauma. Also, the way mental health specialists are portrayed in this is abhorrent. Either cold and clinical or so loosy goosey that no one will take them seriously. Hard pass.
First let me be clear: I have no problem with people making the decision to wait until marriage to have sex. That is a personal decision that we all get to decide on and I would never take that away from anyone. However, what I do have a problem with is the little sprinklings of proselytization throughout the writing implying that (I searched for this direct quote everywhere, but couldn't find it, so I'm paraphrasing) once you've lost your virginity you're something "less than" and no one will want to marry you because you've been ruined. Granted, these words were coming form a person who had been kidnapped and raped, but it was stated with such finality that it really stuck with me. It should have at least been addressed after the fact, but then there's the whole issue of her mom "wanting things to get back to normal" and the rest of the book was colored by that one phrase and it gave it the vibe of "everyone was making do with a broken human".
I've had enough of that from the church that I grew up in. F*k that noise. Definitely not recommended for anyone with PTSD trauma. Also, the way mental health specialists are portrayed in this is abhorrent. Either cold and clinical or so loosy goosey that no one will take them seriously. Hard pass.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4 ⭐️ another twisted story straight from the doctors mouth. This one felt like a lifetime movie (in the most respectable way) and I kept playing scenes in my mind like I was watching the movie. Lots of CSA which is awful, and some personal touches that made me extra uncomfortable but it was a good read.
Had great reviews so I expected a great book... it was good but the ending, what they did with Sarah, felt like it went too far.
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Loveable characters:
No