Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee

27 reviews

allthebooks36's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts

cass_lit's review against another edition

3.5

It’s hard to adequately put words to a book this long and dense. Free Food for Millionaires is longer than it needs to be in my opinion, but even still after putting so much time into reading it, I was *also* constantly thinking about it while not reading and after finishing it. I didn’t like or understand Casey at first, and I didn’t know how I was going to survive 20+ hours of listening to her whine but seemingly do nothing about it. But spend that much time with someone, and you do begin to understand and/or empathize. I was sad about the abrupt ending not for my own understanding of what happens, but because I thought Casey deserved closure for her story. I also started out not enjoying the multiple POVs but grew to love them and how much context they gave us about the characters, Casey included and the world at that time. It felt at times as though we were humanizing abusive, shitty people but now I see it more as getting context as to why they acted the way they did. 

If you’ve read the popular Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, you know her writing. You know she’s not afraid of putting her characters through hell (understanding that these are historical books). Free Food for Millionaires is no exception. And if you, like me, are 75% in wondering where the “graphic” rape trigger warning comes in, know that just because you’re near the end of the novel doesn’t mean you’re safe. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Infidelity, Rape, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Abortion

joymargot's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

While the slow pace coupled with the huge page count might ordinarily have put me off, I read this during the throes of covid and it was oddly comforting to spend so much time with the flawed and frustrating - but ultimately still likeable - Casey.

The story covers a relatively short time period in its 650 pages and feels more like a snapshot of Casey’s life than a structured story with a beginning, middle and satisfying end. It feels a little under-edited but the characters are well-developed and I found myself genuinely caring about (most of) them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Addiction, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault

kitschykitchen's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-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 book was definitely hard to get through at times. Coming in at a whopping 600+ pages, it definitely takes some time to finish. Not to mention, the plot can tend to drag as we’re effectively recycling the same core issues. Despite this, it was still an enjoyable read and I’m glad I read it. As a recent college grad who’s struggling to find her place in the world especially after growing up poor, this book hit super close to home and I recommend people in a similar situation to read it. You won’t regret it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse

natalieba's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Addiction, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual content

tarajoy90's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

annie_reads_books's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Addiction, Miscarriage, and Infidelity

justine_yun's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Violence

emmareeser's review

dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

While incredibly long this book kept me captivated until the end! Minus one star for the ending, it didn’t really leave you with much closure and didn’t really make sense.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Infidelity, Addiction, Rape, Sexism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Cursing, and Death of parent

Gambling

rljenn's review

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Abortion