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maggienack's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Infidelity, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Torture, Murder, Physical abuse, and Trafficking
sarahflanders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Rape, Car accident, Classism, Death, Murder, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, Animal death, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Violence
amandaboyer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Rape, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Car accident, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexism, Misogyny, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Death, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
midwest_to_mountains_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Car accident, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Violence, and Murder
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a lot more fun than I expected it would be, although there are some dark and difficult topics as well. Since I still don't read book descriptions, I didn't know what this would be about and was completely surprised.
I knew it was a female rage book, but I had no idea about the plot or themes. So this centers around 3 middle-aged women at the beginning of their menopause who discover a dead girl at the beach as well as some supernatural powers within themselves. With these powers, they try to solve the murder that no one else seems to take seriously and generally help out other women and take revenge on men, basically.
I did not expect a murder mystery to be part of the story and since I love those, I was pleasantly surprised. Thought, the mystery is kind of in the background of the plot for most of the time and is more of a plot device. I think it was rather predictable too, but I didn't mind because I cared more about the characters, themes and messages of the book.
I loooooved the characters. Not only the 3 protagonists but also their families and their dynamics. The way they talked to each other, to their daughters, to anyone around them really. The way they just stopped giving a f*** and took control over their lives. Amazing.
The plot was often interrupted by background stories of the women involved which showed how they were wronged by men in their lives one way or another. Usually these kinds of tangents would make me impatient or bring me out of a book completely, but I was enjoying the whole experience way too much here and couldn't put the book down. The misogynistic microaggressions also made me SO angry, because they felt so real. And it might feel like a lot or even extreme, but is it though? The way feminist themes are portrayed here is very on the nose, but it's also refreshing how unapologetic and direct they are handled.
I'm a peaceful person and I believe in peaceful solutions. But I get there are situations where peaceful doesn't accomplish anything. And it felt so good and cathartic to see these women reclaiming their power and taking revenge in such a satisfying way.
Loved the writing, loved witchy vibes, loved the humor. And the audiobook is excellent.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Classism, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, Rape, Confinement, Car accident, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Body shaming
meaninglessmischief's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Classism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Vomit, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Classism, Suicide, Rape, Misogyny, Trafficking, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Car accident, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
Iida's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Nessa, Jo and Harriett.
When three women discover the body of a young girl, they start out on a journey to uncover and unravel the insidious network of abuse that has been going on in their community for decades.
This book is magical realism mixed with furious feminism and I loved it. I immediately bought into the whole idea of some women having magical powers and I loved how differently it manifested in the three women.
At times, the pace seemed too slow, and I could have been without some of the background stories of minor characters, although I do think they give a lot of depth to the story. In fact, the flashback chapters were my main gripe with this book - I often spent the first few sentences being confused as to why characters were suddenly in different locations, before realising it was a flashback, so I would have loved some an indication of that in the chapter headings. I listened to the audiobook, so I don't know if there was a visual clue in the printed copy.
The plot is absolutely believable; powerful men doing what they want because no one stops them, and the many instances of bias and outright misogyny is straight out of the real world.
Nessa, Jo and Harriett were all amazing characters, but my favorite by far was Harriett. She had a quiet menace about her, and no qualms about meting out punishment.
I also liked how, towards the end, a lot of hints were dropped, just enough to keep you on your toes, and although could tell where the story was going, it was a joy to be confirmed in my hunches, definitely foreshadowing done right! And there was a twist I didn't see coming, much like the characters themselves.
All in all a really great book, but tw for sexual abuse, violence against women, and graphic violence to name a few. It will make you sad, it will make you angry, and it will make you want to be as kick ass as Harriett Osbourne.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Drug use, Violence, Murder, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Sexism
Minor: Car accident
lpdx's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Violence, Child death, Grief, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Addiction and Car accident
Minor: Classism