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aimee_rw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
readingqueerly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I'm sorry but I could not stand the main characters. Especially in the first part during secondary school, that was the hardest to get through. They are supposedly 'normal people' , yet they are so unhinged and for me their interactions were so hard to follow. The lack of punctuation wasn't the problem, it was the actual content of the interactions that just to me didn't make sense at times. I feel like I'm missing something?
I think I'm still glad I read it, but it was very much a let down and was really not for me. Those main characters being the way they are in what is basically a character study of a book was just not it.
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide attempt
katelynhartley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The story established how well that Marianne and Connell are completely honest with each other in their communication yet there are constant misunderstandings, half truths, omissions, and insecurities that wreck their foundation and essentially reset their progress every time. They were an unofficial exclusive couple three times in their lives with verbal understanding that they love each other. Every time they broke up it wasn’t established by communication but just a simple negligence to communication.
Character personalities, social personas, and thoughts are fully realized to resemble real life, both the good and horrible sides to humanity. This concept salvaged the reading experience yet the self depreciation did add to the already demoralized circumstances, thoughts, and subsequent actions.
I did enjoy both perspectives and the longevity of how their lives are. The ending, being the last chapter, made me happy and then furious at the outcome because it showed little to no growth and left things unsaid. With that said though, I feel it was the best way to conclude the story for these character rather than
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
karalyndawn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Classism
dhatislandbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Classism
rachelpeck7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
komiification's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Racism, Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
mooncraftbujo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Abortion, and War
mugsandmanuscripts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A short summary: this is a dual POV story that follows the relationship and growth of the two main characters, Marianne and Connell. Connell struggles with anxiety and depression. Marianne comes from an abusive home and is bullied at school, but finds more popularity in college, where she begins a lot of self-destructive behaviors. Both suffer from self-esteem issues and terrible communication with each other. Those issues repeatedly push them apart, but they continue to orbit each other and fall into one another's gravity.
I think I would have liked the novel slightly better if it had focused on one of the characters rather than both, but then miscommunication was so awful between the characters that perhaps the second character wouldn't have been translatable without the second POV. But there was so much going on with both of them—Marianne's spiral features relationships with sadistic men, an eating disorder, and terrible friends. Connell struggles with intense social anxiety. They are only ever comfortable with each other, and yet they are inscrutable to one another.
Ultimately, I think this is a story that holds both despair and hope and was so believable that it hurt. The characters really did feel real. I liked it, but it's not one I'd read again.
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
dazzlingreader_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Classism