Scan barcode
kimmmy's review
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
5.0
Oh boy. I never thought a YA novel would hit differently in my almost late 20s phase. There are not enough words to encapsulate what I truly felt about this book. I wish I had read this when I was a teenager, not because I could completely relate to Amelie, but because it would have prepared me for the warning signs and red flags in a relationship.
In a nutshell, TPICIP is extremely upsetting and traumatizing, yet an eye-opening book. It's written in a flashback narrative with a delicate prose and inner monologue of the protagonist that pierced my heart. This book covers sensitive topics, including public breakdowns and debunking the misconception that crying is a sign of weakness. It emphasizes the effects of abuse in all forms, stages of grief, the significance of asking for professional help, having a strong support system, setting boundaries, and learning to trust our guts.
As much as I'm annoyed with Reese, I'd like to focus more on Amelie. She reminded me of those stubborn friends wherein you would say, "Kahit ilang beses mo iuntog sa pader, masyadong matibay ang suot na helmet." Sounds familiar? We Filipinos know this as a joke when someone isn't thinking rationally. No matter how many times you make some sense, it won't work because her thoughts are clouded. She fell hard until she hit rock bottom, but the imaginary helmet she was wearing was so sturdy that it didn't break. No one is an expert on the subject of love, but what is love anyway? Obviously, it isn't controlling, manipulating, or gaslighting. It doesn't take you for granted. And it's not love when you constantly cry. (Srsly, are you dating an onion?)
Despite the push-pull cycle, Amelie found the road to recovery and reclaiming herself. It was indeed a long and excruciating process, but one that was necessary and worth it. I felt light and free by the end, like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders and a wave of relief washed over me.
Whether it's young girls or adult women, this book applies to anyone who is confined to toxic relationships. To those who fall into a trap and are blinded by obsession, thinking what they have is one great love. There are real-life Amelies, and if you're one of them, I hope you muster up the courage to walk away from people and relationships you don't deserve. When you feel something is wrong, don't ignore your guts, because if you don't end the cycle, then who will? And if you're a Reese, seriously, you need some help!
Hands down to Holly Bourne for having the guts to write this phenomenal book. It's so underrated! It's one that I'll forever remember and treasure. That ending was a chef's kiss! I couldn't ask for a better ending. I'm torn in between recommending this and not. But pls, pls consider the tw first before diving in. I couldn't help but think of Taylor's and Olivia's songs while reading.
A deeply affecting and powerful novel, The Places I've Cried in Public appears to be shallow and immature in the beginning, but it is an in-depth analysis of how and why toxic relationships work, and more importantly, how to end a vicious cycle.
In a nutshell, TPICIP is extremely upsetting and traumatizing, yet an eye-opening book. It's written in a flashback narrative with a delicate prose and inner monologue of the protagonist that pierced my heart. This book covers sensitive topics, including public breakdowns and debunking the misconception that crying is a sign of weakness. It emphasizes the effects of abuse in all forms, stages of grief, the significance of asking for professional help, having a strong support system, setting boundaries, and learning to trust our guts.
As much as I'm annoyed with Reese, I'd like to focus more on Amelie. She reminded me of those stubborn friends wherein you would say, "Kahit ilang beses mo iuntog sa pader, masyadong matibay ang suot na helmet." Sounds familiar? We Filipinos know this as a joke when someone isn't thinking rationally. No matter how many times you make some sense, it won't work because her thoughts are clouded. She fell hard until she hit rock bottom, but the imaginary helmet she was wearing was so sturdy that it didn't break. No one is an expert on the subject of love, but what is love anyway? Obviously, it isn't controlling, manipulating, or gaslighting. It doesn't take you for granted. And it's not love when you constantly cry. (Srsly, are you dating an onion?)
Despite the push-pull cycle, Amelie found the road to recovery and reclaiming herself. It was indeed a long and excruciating process, but one that was necessary and worth it. I felt light and free by the end, like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders and a wave of relief washed over me.
Whether it's young girls or adult women, this book applies to anyone who is confined to toxic relationships. To those who fall into a trap and are blinded by obsession, thinking what they have is one great love. There are real-life Amelies, and if you're one of them, I hope you muster up the courage to walk away from people and relationships you don't deserve. When you feel something is wrong, don't ignore your guts, because if you don't end the cycle, then who will? And if you're a Reese, seriously, you need some help!
Hands down to Holly Bourne for having the guts to write this phenomenal book. It's so underrated! It's one that I'll forever remember and treasure. That ending was a chef's kiss! I couldn't ask for a better ending. I'm torn in between recommending this and not. But pls, pls consider the tw first before diving in. I couldn't help but think of Taylor's and Olivia's songs while reading.
A deeply affecting and powerful novel, The Places I've Cried in Public appears to be shallow and immature in the beginning, but it is an in-depth analysis of how and why toxic relationships work, and more importantly, how to end a vicious cycle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship
lyla_wicks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
i thought that this book was a very important and necessary read, and it battled many issues that are so prevalent in many people’s lives. it acts as a lesson for many young people about not only navigating teen life but dealing with so many serious topics. i did however find it a bit boring at some parts and didn’t find the characters to be particularly likeable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
ellajappinen's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Domestic abuse
eilimeee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Spoilers included
I have many thoughts about this book. I will say I only started getting a little bit interested at about 80% of the book.
Reese is so obviously an abuser, a very toxic man who did many bad things to Amelie and she got through it yes. But at the same time, I never found Amelie loveable. Even before Reese manipulated her. Many things she does just seem so stupid to me and ig a part of it is because I don’t know how much of an influence such a toxic person/relationship has on you but also idk. Like how she depends on Alfie to make her feel better? Even after she really hurt him? She didn’t deserve what she got of course im not victim blaming here but she still hurt him so much. Just by getting into a relationship with Reese when he didn’t have power over her yet. This was her own free will at that time. Also she keeps saying that she has no friends and that part is mainly her fault I would say. She doesn’t listen to Hannah who knows him and tells her that he’s not a good guy, and then she lets him talk about her in a bad manner, and then she spends all her time with him completely forgetting that they are friends? Idk that didn’t sit right with me.
Also, I know it’s literally in the title but the fact that she’s crying like 50% of the book annoyed me.
The part about her being raped broke my heart into a million pieces. And the way Reese does it and how it’s written taht was devastating I will admit.
But overall I didn’t really enjoy the book as I just couldn’t stand the main character and her actions that made her look very selfish (when she wasn’t manipulated into doing it)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
nnread's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Bullying and Emotional abuse
leonormsousa's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
4.5
TRIGGER WARNINGS
REPRESENTATION
REVIEW
Have you ever heard about stories of domestic violence or violence in relationships and thought “how did it get to this point? how did the victim not put a stop to the abuse?”? If you did, then I would definitely recommend The Places I’ve Cried in Public. It can give you the answer you’re looking for, as it is not a cute YA romance as it may seem, but a strong and hard story of abuse.
Honestly, this book has everything you might want in a (YA) book. The characters are very well built and feel real. The plot keeps you engaged and draws you in so well, that it feels like you’re inside Amelie’s skin so much that you almost fall a bit in love with Reese. And sometimes you’re yelling “please don’t do that” but at the same time you can understand everything she does. The book is also very well written, with the intercalation of present Amelie and past Amelie being *chef’s kiss * .
But maybe what I like the most about this book is that it’s not just a good book. It’s a book that has an important message and that’s targeted at an audience that NEEDS to read this message. It’s a book that matters! And books that matter always grab my little heart.
There’s not much more to say, except “go read this book”! Even if you don’t like YA, I think you might enjoy this as it is so far from your typical YA book. I myself was already expecting to be disappointed since my expectations for this were quite high but I was pleasantly surprised: I was not expecting such a strong book.
Lastly, I would like to offer another recommendation to the ones of you who want to read further on this topic. I’ve read “Into the Darkest Corner” by Elizabeth Haynes a few years ago and it’s still to this day, one of the books that I think about from time to time. It’s an adult book even heavier that “The Places I’ve Cried in Public”, as it tells with more detail not only emotional abuse but especially physical abuse, and also the consequences that being in an abusive relationship can have on years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Panic attacks/disorders
squishymini's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
toscareads's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The novel is about a girl, Amelie, who was in an abusive relationship with a boy, Reese. The book switches tenses to detail events as they happened in the relationship, and then to Amelie looking back on those experiences, trying to understand why what he did was abusive.
It’s a super easy read, but encompasses such an important topic. I think Bourne did a great job of not making a story about a rather heavy topic too difficult to read. It allows a younger audience to also understand that a relationship like the one detailed in the book is abusive, and it spreads awareness, but simultaneously makes it clear that that is not the end. There is hope.
I also think that in a lot of fantasy stories, or even romance novels, unhealthy relationships can sometimes be glamorised; the thrill of the chase, saying one thing and then doing another, being hateful to one another one minute and then kissing the next, etc. I think it’s good that there are also books out there that discuss that maybe ‘excitement’ isn’t always favourable over ‘safety’ when it comes to love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
thekiwibibliophile's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
ellas_escapism's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
"I called Eden worse names. Because we always make the girls the villains rather than the victims."
okay, firstly I just want to say that this book is obviously so so so important to highlight typical behaviours in a toxic relationship, and that everyone's views are subjective - just because I didn't enjoy this book doesn't mean you w
However, I just really disliked the main character and all of the other characters (apart from Alfie I guess). Amelie gives me very much 'i'm not like other girls', but this has nothing to do with how she reacts within her relationship. At the very beginning of the book, before meeting Reese, she was so annoyingly "quirky" - she has a shyness rash and the author constantly uses the word 'bloom' to describe it.
None of the other characters were developed at all and even Alfie (who is supposed to be a massive part of her life) is pretty one-dimensional. Hannah, Jack, Jessa and Amelie's other so-called friends appear very little in the book - which I do get because it is a story surrounding Amelie and Reese - but it would have been nice to have them be developed and play a bigger part in Amelie's life.
okay, firstly I just want to say that this book is obviously so so so important to highlight typical behaviours in a toxic relationship, and that everyone's views are subjective - just because I didn't enjoy this book doesn't mean you w
However, I just really disliked the main character and all of the other characters (apart from Alfie I guess). Amelie gives me very much 'i'm not like other girls', but this has nothing to do with how she reacts within her relationship. At the very beginning of the book, before meeting Reese, she was so annoyingly "quirky" - she has a shyness rash and the author constantly uses the word 'bloom' to describe it.
None of the other characters were developed at all and even Alfie (who is supposed to be a massive part of her life) is pretty one-dimensional. Hannah, Jack, Jessa and Amelie's other so-called friends appear very little in the book - which I do get because it is a story surrounding Amelie and Reese - but it would have been nice to have them be developed and play a bigger part in Amelie's life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Rape