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lryoung's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt and Vomit
ireadinbed's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This would have been a 5 but the last chapter! I've read the last minute internal villain reveal more than once this year but it was just a real let down this time. Unnecessary and undercut the story.
But the rest was great I genuinely flew through it. Loved the characters and couldn't put together all the working parts into the full picture. So it stayed fresh
But the rest was great I genuinely flew through it. Loved the characters and couldn't put together all the working parts into the full picture. So it stayed fresh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
kennedylamb's review
The descriptions of child abuse were too upsetting and made me feel sick
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
princessblueyes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Bullying, Mental illness, Death, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Drug abuse, Child death, Addiction, and Alcohol
bmpicc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Hepworth's books are very readable, and this one was no different. I "solved" it pretty early on. Yet, I'm not mad because it was a fun ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship
cmvilleneuve's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TW: abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, foster care
Holy. Sh!t. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Part of the twist I did figure out about half way through but my jaw is still on the floor from that ending. 🤯🤯🤯🤯
Holy. Sh!t. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Part of the twist I did figure out about half way through but my jaw is still on the floor from that ending. 🤯🤯🤯🤯
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
sariereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Child death, and Confinement
shesalwaysreading's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thought I had everything figured out but nooooo, Sally went and did it again! This is by far my favorite book of hers. I liked everything about this book. While I prefer books written in a single point of view vs multi POV like this one, it worked well for this book. Definitely dark and make sure to check trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse
minimicropup's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was sad but also heart-warming 🥹
Energy: Shrewd. Resilient. Contemplative.
Scene: 🇦🇺 Fictional town of Port Agatha, near Melbourne, Australia
Perspective: We follow three sisters bonded through their foster care experience and estranged from their foster mother. Their stories are told through the past (growing up) and as adults returning to town after bones are found on the property. We also get the perspective of an unknown character speaking to their therapist about childhood trauma.
🐩 Tail Wags: The sisters. The accurate depictions of toxic traits and personality disorders. Easy listening audio narration.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
This book is sad, check content warnings! But the sad moments are balanced by the sisters’ resilience and their strong bonds. The depiction of narcissistic abuse, and how hard it is to report is so spot-on.
This is more of a story about the sisters and an examination of their life and the trauma of foster care, with mysterious occurrences and a touch of true crime suspense. I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller.
I liked the audio - the accents and narrator’s voices made the characters come to life in my mind.
That ending! Well done, I didn’t see that coming
----
🤓 Reader Role: Listener and Empath. There in the room with the characters, feeling what they’re feeling as scenes unfold or are recalled.
🗺️ World-Building: Easy to picture the scenes and pick up on the energy in the room, almost cinematic.
🔥 Fuel: Why are the foster kids being treated this way? Will they report the abuse? Will they be believed? Who is the unknown person we overhear in their therapy sessions? What is the identity of the body found under the house? Was it accident or murder? How will things turn out for the girls, now women, as they go head-to-head with Ms Fairchild?
📖 Cred: Realism with chunks of hyper-realistic.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
-Music box. Whinnying horses. Flashlights under bed covers. Whispers. Giggles. Car tires on gravel.
-Psychological suspense with a touch of sapphic romance.
-Reflective stories about trauma and sisterhood.
Content Heads-Up: Parental/caregiver neglect, abandonment. Loss of caregiver. Loss of parent. Addiction, substance abuse. Foster care. Child abuse/torture (verbal, emotional, physical). Narcissistic abuse. Narcissism. Extortion. Trauma bonds. Sexual content (brief, consenting). Pedophilia (mention; brief). Kidnapping. Child murder. Suicide attempt.
Rep: Bisexual. Heterosexual. Lesbian. Cisgender. Brown and pale-skinned Australians.
📚 Format: Library Audio
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction and Child death
maddyhammer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Sexual assault