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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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 love this book so much. I finished it in a day, I could not put it down. I love darker themes in stories but I don’t love romance, so this book was like a breath of fresh air to me! In the beginning, I didn’t think I’d be able to like Sayer as a character but after he started growing, I found myself feeling for him and rooting for him. This would’ve been a five star for me, but I’m disappointed that we never got the resolution between Sayer and Luke. He mentions texting back, but there was no scene of them reuniting or even just skipping it and including Luke on Sayer’s healing journey, which bummed me out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
For the rape/SA: The rape/sexual assault is for an off screen moment at the beginning of the book and is alluded to until confirmed at the end. It begins when Garrett takes Evan into the woods and ends when they both come back. At the end of the book, Garrett admits that he forced Evan to give him oral sex.
Gun violence/injury: near the middle/end, Caleb kills himself with a gun
Alcohol: in the beginning, Braxton is drunk in the limo after homecoming and at the end, Garrett is clearly intoxicated
Toxic friendship: Sayer has a toxic friendship with Garrett
Child death: all off screen, but while exploring the house, Sayer finds freezers with children aged 11-19 dead and frozen inside
Character (5/5)
Plot & Pacing (4/5)
Setting & Surroundings (5/5)
Dialogue & Diction (4/5)
Craft & Voice (5/5)
Reading Experience (5/5)
Final Rating:
4.67/5
Comments:
It took me almost two months to read this book, and almost a full month to really digest it and know how to review it. This is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read, certainly in the YA space. From a craft perspective, this almost felt like two separate books occupying one space. It’s rare to see a contemporary/realistic fiction novel clock in at over 500 pages. But Roe did it this way for a reason: to show us the AFTERMATH of trauma. And not just any trauma, but significant trauma. You go through this ordeal with the protagonist, and then when it’s over, when you expect the story to conclude, there’s a whole new story that begins, that takes you on a separate but equally important journey of coping, healing, and resilience. This book did not flinch in its examination of human psychology and trauma responses. Reading it over a long span of time really got into my head, too, and I Roe’s prose made me feel as though I was right there in the passenger seat with Sayers. This was a truly moving work. I’m not sure I could ever read this again. But I am definitely glad I read it once! I highly recommend this to folks looking for hope and healing in the shadow of seemingly insurmountable trauma and personal tragedy.
Plot & Pacing (4/5)
Setting & Surroundings (5/5)
Dialogue & Diction (4/5)
Craft & Voice (5/5)
Reading Experience (5/5)
Final Rating:
4.67/5
Comments:
It took me almost two months to read this book, and almost a full month to really digest it and know how to review it. This is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read, certainly in the YA space. From a craft perspective, this almost felt like two separate books occupying one space. It’s rare to see a contemporary/realistic fiction novel clock in at over 500 pages. But Roe did it this way for a reason: to show us the AFTERMATH of trauma. And not just any trauma, but significant trauma. You go through this ordeal with the protagonist, and then when it’s over, when you expect the story to conclude, there’s a whole new story that begins, that takes you on a separate but equally important journey of coping, healing, and resilience. This book did not flinch in its examination of human psychology and trauma responses. Reading it over a long span of time really got into my head, too, and I Roe’s prose made me feel as though I was right there in the passenger seat with Sayers. This was a truly moving work. I’m not sure I could ever read this again. But I am definitely glad I read it once! I highly recommend this to folks looking for hope and healing in the shadow of seemingly insurmountable trauma and personal tragedy.
I will not forget this book for a long time. I guarantee you I will wake up in the morning thinking of these characters because they have not left my head since I finished the book. I loved it so much. It made me feel every emotion under the sun, especially sadness, anger, but at the same time, hope.
“it’s shocking how attached you can become to a plan you only conceived of a day before, but once you feel hope, it can fill every cell of your body until you are hope.”
do not let the length of this book deter you (just over 500 pages) from reading it. I flew through it in 2 days because I could not. put. it. down. short chapters and an amazing story will do that to me.
I think it was 100% an intentional choice by the author to invoke the reader’s anger toward the main character in the first 1/3 of the book. this way, when the opposite emotions were felt at the end of the book, it showed the immense growth and transformation of his character through all the trauma he faced. the author mentions “vulnerable but invincible” in her author’s note (don’t skip it if you read this book!) and that is the perfect description of how these characters carried on.
I do wish that the concept of therapy was more central in the last 1/3 of the book while the main character was in the aftermath. I also wish his friends were more understanding of what happened to him and that a few loose ends were tied up with his mother, father, and former best friend.
I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something deep, dark, and fast paced. as well as one that will fill you with hope for the characters and their lives moving forward after trauma.
thank you so much robin roe and harper teen for sending me a copy of dark room etiquette in exchange for an honest review.
“it’s shocking how attached you can become to a plan you only conceived of a day before, but once you feel hope, it can fill every cell of your body until you are hope.”
do not let the length of this book deter you (just over 500 pages) from reading it. I flew through it in 2 days because I could not. put. it. down. short chapters and an amazing story will do that to me.
I think it was 100% an intentional choice by the author to invoke the reader’s anger toward the main character in the first 1/3 of the book. this way, when the opposite emotions were felt at the end of the book, it showed the immense growth and transformation of his character through all the trauma he faced. the author mentions “vulnerable but invincible” in her author’s note (don’t skip it if you read this book!) and that is the perfect description of how these characters carried on.
I do wish that the concept of therapy was more central in the last 1/3 of the book while the main character was in the aftermath. I also wish his friends were more understanding of what happened to him and that a few loose ends were tied up with his mother, father, and former best friend.
I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something deep, dark, and fast paced. as well as one that will fill you with hope for the characters and their lives moving forward after trauma.
thank you so much robin roe and harper teen for sending me a copy of dark room etiquette in exchange for an honest review.
I never thought I'd find this book. I never thought I'd find a book with a character who shares and lives my Faith, but she's not a glom of stereotypes, she takes care of business and is tough and stays true to herself in this freakish situation. I've needed this book all my life, so thank you Robin Roe. Perfection.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A beautifully written tale about the horrors of captivity and life after rescue, in contrast to life before. How Stockholm Syndrome can blur the lines and what severe trauma can force one's mind to perceive as real. The themes of bullying and parental neglect are explored as well. Despite it all, the true friendships that exist and develop are heartwarming. Easily one of the best stories I've read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know how to get over this book.
The trauma. The character growth. Sayers. Penny. Evan. Luke. I won’t forget this for a long time.
The trauma. The character growth. Sayers. Penny. Evan. Luke. I won’t forget this for a long time.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced