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okiecozyreader's review against another edition
4.25
I loved all the bookish references - the magical bookshop, the Mont Blanc Le Petit Prince pen (which I didn’t know existed, but what a fun surprise p76-77), and all of the books (Normal People by Sally Rooney) and quotes. This book does go to some dark places in the ways that women are treated by men. It took me a while to keep track of who everyone was and how they were related but I was glad I stuck with it.
“In the story, there was a young woman who came to the library, miles away from her true home. She read a story about a girl who had come to a fork in the road and was so afraid of making the wrong decision that she stayed where she was, huddled in the hollow of a tree. After several days, an old woman came along and told her a riddle. She asked, 'What is something you create, even if you do nothing?' The answer was a choice.
Choosing not to do something was still a choice.” P143
“It is strange how seemingly inconsequential conversations suddenly take on the mantle of fate and destiny when cast in a new light.” P253
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Violence, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
vtorres123's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
fancyjess_party'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? No
3.25
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Child death, Death of parent, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Self harm, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
kay_chan'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
1.5
I almost dnf'd this book three or four times because the topics are dark and not developed well within the characters. It was shock value for me because I wasn't expecting it and even though I managed to finish it to get to the kind of "HEA", I don't think it was worth it.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Murder
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: War
catiebick'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
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, and War
rosietomyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, War, Stalking, and Addiction
roxyrip'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
4.5
What's with the mind reading scattered throughout the book?
What happened when Shane fell down the stairs?
Why was the bookshop hidden in the first place?
Did Opaline search for Rose?
How was Opaline able to go back to living in and operating the bookshop after all that time?
How did Opaline's story end? I get that she mostly had a happy ending with Josef but I wanted more info on their life after he came back.
Did Martha tell her mom about the relation to Opaline, the bookshop and who Opaline was?
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicide and Alcoholism
jnobrien21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Pregnancy, War, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
rebecca2024's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
julianimal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Physical abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent