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_kendall's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
nicolettezamora's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Violence
Moderate: Death
Minor: Rape
nattentiondeficit's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
I loved this book. I didn’t want it to end. So much dysfunction in one family yet so much great character development. SOOO many quotable moments. I’ll need to let this sink in before I can come up with a more thoughtful review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
hannahroseln's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
I looooved the sisterhood themes in this book! The relationships were relatable and realistic, although I found that the author relied a little too heavily on the tropes given to each of the sisters at times - some descriptions were repeated a little too much. I also wish that she had explored the romantic relationships/grief/loss aspects as much as the addition aspect. Overall 3.5/5!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
adaora_ble's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Grief, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
kathispathi's review against another edition
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
5.0
A fantastic read that beautifully explores grief, love, and sisterhood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death and Suicide
waybeyondblue's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Yeah, not for me. LOTS of reasons why, but I'll stick to the endometriosis rep. Spoilers coming up.
One of the sisters, Nicky, is killed off before the story even starts - in the prologue, I mean she literally doesn't make it to chapter 1. And OF COURSE she's the sister with endometriosis.
The descriptions of endometriosis pain were ok - quite accurate (though superficial). But endo doesn't typically kill people. So Mellors gives it the double-whammy and throws in some drug addiction for pain relief, and that's what kills her.
These are two serious issues, but the way they are casually combined is trite - very frothy, a Hallmark version. There's a weird part where they think her soul has been reincarnated into a pink smeg fridge. That's the kind of Hallmark I mean.
The whole story is about Nicky's remaining sisters 'find themselves' again in the wake of her death. It can be summed up by this one (bad) quote: 'Did Nicky not teach you anything? Do you still not get the part about the fucking fragility of life?'
'Bury your disabled' is a well-known trope. It's basically where writers kill off the disabled characters because they're only there as a plot device - to give inspiration or a life lesson for the non-disabled characters. That's pretty much what's going on here.
Nicky's life has no value in itself - she doesn't really exist in the story, only as a memory. And her main purpose is to inspire her non-disabled sisters to turn their lives around. Even in interviews, I've heard Mellors describe it as a book about 'three sisters' - she's erased from the start, even though the whole plot hinges on her death.
She's also presented as something of a martyr, the 'good' sister who, out of them all, least deserved to die *eye roll* - another disability trope.
There are also some weird takes on queer relationships, too, including this awful sapphic sex scene: 'It felt so good, so right... Not at all like with the boys before... Above her the Virgin Mary smiled down, and, staring up into her benevolent grey eyes, Avery had orgasmed powerfully for the first time. She'd maintained a secret soft spot for the Mother of God ever since.'
I mean... ?!
I could go on, but think I'll just leave it there....
One of the sisters, Nicky, is killed off before the story even starts - in the prologue, I mean she literally doesn't make it to chapter 1. And OF COURSE she's the sister with endometriosis.
The descriptions of endometriosis pain were ok - quite accurate (though superficial). But endo doesn't typically kill people. So Mellors gives it the double-whammy and throws in some drug addiction for pain relief, and that's what kills her.
These are two serious issues, but the way they are casually combined is trite - very frothy, a Hallmark version. There's a weird part where they think her soul has been reincarnated into a pink smeg fridge. That's the kind of Hallmark I mean.
The whole story is about Nicky's remaining sisters 'find themselves' again in the wake of her death. It can be summed up by this one (bad) quote: 'Did Nicky not teach you anything? Do you still not get the part about the fucking fragility of life?'
'Bury your disabled' is a well-known trope. It's basically where writers kill off the disabled characters because they're only there as a plot device - to give inspiration or a life lesson for the non-disabled characters. That's pretty much what's going on here.
Nicky's life has no value in itself - she doesn't really exist in the story, only as a memory. And her main purpose is to inspire her non-disabled sisters to turn their lives around. Even in interviews, I've heard Mellors describe it as a book about 'three sisters' - she's erased from the start, even though the whole plot hinges on her death.
She's also presented as something of a martyr, the 'good' sister who, out of them all, least deserved to die *eye roll* - another disability trope.
There are also some weird takes on queer relationships, too, including this awful sapphic sex scene: 'It felt so good, so right... Not at all like with the boys before... Above her the Virgin Mary smiled down, and, staring up into her benevolent grey eyes, Avery had orgasmed powerfully for the first time. She'd maintained a secret soft spot for the Mother of God ever since.'
I mean... ?!
I could go on, but think I'll just leave it there....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
naomzzz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
maybe it was just the right book at the right time for me but i thought this was incredible. the characters feel so real to me now, i genuinely feel like i'm going to miss them now i've finished the book. the way the perspective alternates between avery, bonnie, and lucky was so well done -- i really felt like they each had such distinctive voices and i was inside each of their heads (even though it's all written in 3rd person). the conversation between avery and her mum in the last chapter before the epilogue hit me so hard i had to take breaks while reading it. i absolutely love these characters and this book. (you probably shouldn't have a favourite sister but bonnie was my favourite.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, and Death of parent
norilein's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
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
3.75
Wir begleiten die Schwestern Avery, Lucky und Bonnie Blue. Sie haben vor einem Jahr ihre Schwester Nicky auf Grund einer Überdosis verloren. Wir erleben den Trauerprozess und die erneute Annäherung der Schwestern. Sie finden einen neuen Weg für ihre Schwesternbeziehung ohne Nicky als aktiven, jedoch immer bleibenden Part. Auch den persönlichen Heilungsprozess von Sucht und Vernachlässigung in der Kindheit können wir verfolgen. Es ist toll wie die Schwestern als Einzelpersonen und in ihrem Zusammenspiel lebendig werden und die gemeinsamen Herausforderungen zunehmend wieder zusammen bestreiten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
bethanyho67's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse