Reviews - The Strangers | The StoryGraph

485 reviews for:

The Strangers

Katherena Vermette

4.22 AVERAGE

niecierpek's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Wow

samantha_45's review against another edition

5.0

This book was incredibly written and really shows the the impacts of intergenerational trauma in indigenous peoples. I found some parts of it a little slow and one part of the book never gets explained but it was still a great book. Sad, but great. It definitely deserves all of the recognition it’s gained.

iamnita's review against another edition

2.0

This was super tough to read as someone who experienced childhood trauma similar to what happened throughout. The book was just a series of angry people describing their generational trauma again and again and again. I wish there had been a plot - really anything. Oh, and there were a few obvious typos; not sure anyone proofread.

kelsomimi's review against another edition

4.0

Sigh....this was fantastic...until the end. Unless her intention is to write a follow up there were WAY too many loose ends. This will still be a top read for me this year regardless of its flaws.

ruthormist's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective 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

jen_again's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

emmysreading's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

francestea's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Wow, this book did not disappoint. It’s just as good as The Break (maybe even better) with a few overlapping characters that I liked catching up with. Vermette can really write. Her characters are sympathetic -in that they are likeable (or at least understandable)- and incredibly well rounded.

Content Warnings

katmc's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sarah984's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was a little bit hesitant going into this one because I was worried it might turn into a sort of "redemption arc" for Phoenix where she's suddenly not at fault anymore for the part she played in the events of The Break. I really enjoyed it, though.

At its heart, this is a book about mothers and daughters, and the way people try (and sometimes fail) to connect. The characters all have unique voices (though I don't get why some were first person and some were third person) and perspectives. It was interesting to read about the same events from the wildly differing points of view of two characters who were both there. There were a few parts that felt kind of like they were included to check off a list (one character’s abortion felt a little "okay I haven't included this experience yet" for me).

Content Warnings

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