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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This wins for most disturbing book I've read this year. Such a unique POV for a story and it was disgusting and heart breaking at the same time, but such a great read. Lucinda Berry knows how to tear you up.
Definitely not easy to read. This book is very sad, intense, and powerful. The story broke my heart in so many ways. I couldn’t stop crying at the end.
Let’s just say it’s not just the subject of the book that makes it insufferable…
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a punch in the gut. As a mother…and as a mother to two little girls…I found myself really struggling with whether or not I sided with Adrienne (Noah’s mothers and the FMC) or not.
I also tell my girls at least twice a day that I love them more than anything, forever and ever, no matter what…but when you put yourself in Adrienne and Lucas’ shoes it makes things really confusing.
All that being said, the ending absolutely crushed me. I had to keep taking breaks in the last few chapters to keep myself from crying while my kids played not far from me.
I don’t know how this author was able to get into the minds of Adrienne, Noah and Lucas but wow… Lucinda Berry is incredible talented in how she made me feel all kinds of ways about these characters.
I won’t go into detail on the storyline because it’s triggering and isn’t something I want to put in people’s feeds. But please check content warnings on this one before you open it up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (for now…we’ll see how long it sticks with me).
I also tell my girls at least twice a day that I love them more than anything, forever and ever, no matter what…but when you put yourself in Adrienne and Lucas’ shoes it makes things really confusing.
All that being said, the ending absolutely crushed me. I had to keep taking breaks in the last few chapters to keep myself from crying while my kids played not far from me.
I don’t know how this author was able to get into the minds of Adrienne, Noah and Lucas but wow… Lucinda Berry is incredible talented in how she made me feel all kinds of ways about these characters.
I won’t go into detail on the storyline because it’s triggering and isn’t something I want to put in people’s feeds. But please check content warnings on this one before you open it up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (for now…we’ll see how long it sticks with me).
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this one because it was a relatively short read and I actually enjoy reading books that contain topics that threaten my comfort level.
While the subject matter was extremely disturbing, I felt that there were some aspects that were glazed over. I can understand why because child SA is an impossible subject to write about. However, I feel that would have added more shock value and make readers really understand the sick nature of what Noah did. I feel like a book discussing such a difficult subject, readers WANT to feel conflicted in how they feel about Noah. Like yes, I want to see a different side of the aisle and feel a smidge of compassion for Noah, but I also wanted to hate him first. But the whole time I was reading this, it seemed to only focus on the struggles he endured after the fact, rather than the depravity of his actions. We also didn’t get any perspective from the victims in this story. The book really ONLY mentioned the little girls to set the scene of what happened.
I also super disliked Noah’s parents. Adrianne is a mother bear, but she seems to ONLY care about Noah and has the inability to empathize with his victims. She very much diminished the extend of the assault of Noah’s victims (I.e. saying that they weren’t penetrated, so it wasn’t THAT bad). I cannot say that I wouldn’t advocate for my child as fiercely as she has, but to disregard the impact of their actions seemed shallow. Especially when Noah himself understood the gravity of what he did.
Don’t even get me started on Lucas. As someone who successfully dodged accountability for his own pedophilloic crimes, he had ZERO empathy for his son. Almost as if he maybe never considered that Noah was the way he was because of him? Maybe? I was really hoping there would be some sort of redemption arc for him but he truly was the worst.
I will admit that the last 10-15% of the book, I was ugly crying. Lucinda did capture child loss beautifully with her words and they hit hard.
While the subject matter was extremely disturbing, I felt that there were some aspects that were glazed over. I can understand why because child SA is an impossible subject to write about. However, I feel that would have added more shock value and make readers really understand the sick nature of what Noah did. I feel like a book discussing such a difficult subject, readers WANT to feel conflicted in how they feel about Noah. Like yes, I want to see a different side of the aisle and feel a smidge of compassion for Noah, but I also wanted to hate him first. But the whole time I was reading this, it seemed to only focus on the struggles he endured after the fact, rather than the depravity of his actions. We also didn’t get any perspective from the victims in this story. The book really ONLY mentioned the little girls to set the scene of what happened.
I also super disliked Noah’s parents. Adrianne is a mother bear, but she seems to ONLY care about Noah and has the inability to empathize with his victims. She very much diminished the extend of the assault of Noah’s victims (I.e. saying that they weren’t penetrated, so it wasn’t THAT bad). I cannot say that I wouldn’t advocate for my child as fiercely as she has, but to disregard the impact of their actions seemed shallow. Especially when Noah himself understood the gravity of what he did.
Don’t even get me started on Lucas. As someone who successfully dodged accountability for his own pedophilloic crimes, he had ZERO empathy for his son. Almost as if he maybe never considered that Noah was the way he was because of him? Maybe? I was really hoping there would be some sort of redemption arc for him but he truly was the worst.
I will admit that the last 10-15% of the book, I was ugly crying. Lucinda did capture child loss beautifully with her words and they hit hard.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes