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librarymouse'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? It's complicated
5.0
In the prequel novella Kill Joy, Jackson plants the seeds for Ant to show his true colors. He's an asshole, poking fun at the murder of Andie Bell multiple times throughout the murder mystery birthday party they're attending and prank scaring his friends, disregarding his friends' feelings when they ask him to stop. In this novel, he is so wrapped up in his relationship with Lauren and he believes online comments, that he disregards Connor's pain, as does Lauren. He mocks Pip the day Max Hastings is pronounced not guilty, provoking her into attacking him by joking that she's hidden Jamie for more internet clout, calling his disappearance "convenient". I hope they're dropped from the friend group in the next novel.
This sets the stage really well for Ant's dad to be one of the people who protest the funeral. Jackson does a fantastic job depicting the negatives of small towns - the bigotry, and the closing of ranks. Ravi is the blueprint boyfriend, and his willingness to be there for Pip, supporting her through everything, is really beautiful. He understands what she's going through more than most. I'm also glad Pip was able to repair her relationship with Nat DeSilva.
I guessed the killer was Pip's neighbor, about 3/4 of the way through the book, but it was a feature of the clues peppered through the writing, and I'm not disappointed that I was able to guess it. The twist was still satisfying to read. Pip's suffering because of Charlie's actions, killing a man in cold blood, in front of her, is thoughtfully written. Her tenderness for a man she barely knew, and who most would say didn't deserve it, whether it be for his past and apologized for racism, or his part in his father's crimes as a child, juxtapose greatly with the reactions of the townsfolk who new and loved Stanley before his identity was revealed. Pip cares about the truth and the preservation of life, and her coming to terms with her new perception of right and wrong, and who she is as a person make for a very compelling subplot to this novel.
I'm excited for the next book, but I'm sad I have so little time left with these characters.
Great story if you love to read about feminine rage.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer and Confinement
Minor: Drug use
whoever_'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
serendipity421'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use
wishyouweresober's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, and Alcohol
sissiemilia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Mental illness
Minor: Cancer and Alcohol
maddison20'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
bubbly_lara'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
4.25
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
anonymous_traveller's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Poor Stanely. He didn’t deserve that. No child ever deserves this. Ffs.mollymoo1234'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? Yes
5.0
Enjoy xx
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape
literarylily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident