Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

5 reviews

nataliecoyne's review

dark emotional reflective 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

3.75

This was probably going to be 3 stars, the kind of book where it was interesting enough and good enough but with flaws. However, Part III (the final 78 pages) saved it, as that section really captivated me, it was so emotional, and was exactly what I was hoping for out of this novel. So that brought it up to 3.75 stars.

I think, when it comes to the first two parts (the first 184 pages), I just didn't really expect the romance plot and how much that would be the focus of so much of this book. I thought the romance was nice, but it just wasn't what I was hoping for and the amount of sexual content made me uncomfortable at times. That's why I had been leaning toward 3 stars. But again, I am super grateful for Part III and Part III brought it up to 3.75 stars.

I could definitely see myself recommending this to others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, and War

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Stalking, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Deportation

katsweirdbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Bullying and Alcohol

fatfrog's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content

Moderate: Antisemitism and War

Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

kimveach's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

While the first two sections of this book were paced slowly, it was worth the payoff at the end. It was a disturbing book, and I'm not sure the ending could have happened. Regardless, I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Classism, and Deportation

memeraryfiction's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

The Safekeep is an incredible book; I couldn't put it down and read it in two sittings. Van der Wouden's writing is excellent; she conveys tension and emotion so beautifully. Given the book's subject matter (memory, loss, echoes of the Second World War), it could easily have become maudlin but never did. I find war novels a very difficult sell these days (because there are just so many of them!), but this one is well worth reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment