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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have really enjoyed everything of Laura Pearson's I have read, and this was no different. Wonderful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Minor: Car accident
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson is a wonderful book which I devoured in one sitting. I loved the process of watching Shelley recover her memories gradually after waking up in the hospital from a coma. By alternating the timeline between then and now, Pearson allows the reader to slowly get more and more of Shelley’s story.
The book does have a focus on generational domestic violence, so it could be hard to read for some people. I do think it was handled very well, but you may want to avoid this book if that is triggering for you. The characters were well developed and the pace was steady.
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is one small plot point at the very end which was totally unrealistic. I won’t give more details so as to avoid spoilers. Despite that, I still think this is a great book and plan to read more from this author.
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
this is not a well written review, these are just my first thoughts, right after finishing this book. and they are as follows:
I started this book without having any idea I started this book without having any idea what it was about, and I'm glad because had I seen the words "domestic abuse" I probably would have skipped it. Not because I find it triggering, but because it's a topic that seems to be everywhere - including fiction - and very often portrayed and described so similarly that it loses its true meaning. I've even, at times, stopped "feeling" the pain that the victims are suffering, because I've almost become used to it. which is... ducked up.
this one, however, managed to bring something new to the table. This was fun, whilst all the time staying in topic and not being funny in a "joke" kind of way, but rather small, subtle comments and observations make it funny. I also found the main character herself to be very likeable. she comes across as a whole person with a complex personality - not "just" a victim. She's also a good friend, she can be sharp tounged, but also gentle. she can be funny, but also vounerable. Even better: she's likable without being painted as perfect or flawless.
The way the story is constructed makes this a bit different from other books about the same topic. It felt like a mystery at times, and I didn't know exactly what was to be revealed. For a time I suspected that the main character was of the unreliable sort, then I thought maybe the whole book was based on false memories, and ... well, it got me curious, and the truth was gradually exposed at a very comfortable pace that allowed me to take it all in without feeling rushed, whilst at the same time never becoming slow and a drag.
In addition to being about abuse, it's also about friendship, loyalty, family ties, the fine balance between independence and vonerabilitywhat it was about, and I'm glad because had I seen the words "domestic abuse" I probably would have skipped it. Not because I find it triggering, but because it's a topic that seems to be everywhere - including fiction - and very often portrayed and described so similarly that it loses its true meaning. I've even, at times, stopped "feeling" the pain that the victims are suffering, because I've almost become used to it. which is... ducked up.
this one, however, managed to bring something new to the table. This was fun, whilst all the time staying in topic and not being funny in a "joke" kind of way, but rather small, subtle comments and observations make it funny. I also found the main character herself to be very likeable. she comes across as a whole person with a complex personality - not "just" a victim. She's also a good friend, she can be sharp tounged, but also gentle. she can be funny, but also vounerable. Even better: she's likable without being painted as perfect or flawless.
The way the story is constructed makes this a bit different from other books about the same topic. It felt like a mystery at times, and I didn't know exactly what was to be revealed. For a time I suspected that the main character was of the unreliable sort, then I thought maybe the whole book was based on false memories, and ... well, it got me curious, and the truth was gradually exposed at a very comfortable pace that allowed me to take it all in without feeling rushed, whilst at the same time never becoming slow and a drag.
In addition to being about abuse, it's also about friendship, loyalty, family ties, the fine balance between independence and vonerability
I started this book without having any idea I started this book without having any idea what it was about, and I'm glad because had I seen the words "domestic abuse" I probably would have skipped it. Not because I find it triggering, but because it's a topic that seems to be everywhere - including fiction - and very often portrayed and described so similarly that it loses its true meaning. I've even, at times, stopped "feeling" the pain that the victims are suffering, because I've almost become used to it. which is... ducked up.
this one, however, managed to bring something new to the table. This was fun, whilst all the time staying in topic and not being funny in a "joke" kind of way, but rather small, subtle comments and observations make it funny. I also found the main character herself to be very likeable. she comes across as a whole person with a complex personality - not "just" a victim. She's also a good friend, she can be sharp tounged, but also gentle. she can be funny, but also vounerable. Even better: she's likable without being painted as perfect or flawless.
The way the story is constructed makes this a bit different from other books about the same topic. It felt like a mystery at times, and I didn't know exactly what was to be revealed. For a time I suspected that the main character was of the unreliable sort, then I thought maybe the whole book was based on false memories, and ... well, it got me curious, and the truth was gradually exposed at a very comfortable pace that allowed me to take it all in without feeling rushed, whilst at the same time never becoming slow and a drag.
In addition to being about abuse, it's also about friendship, loyalty, family ties, the fine balance between independence and vonerabilitywhat it was about, and I'm glad because had I seen the words "domestic abuse" I probably would have skipped it. Not because I find it triggering, but because it's a topic that seems to be everywhere - including fiction - and very often portrayed and described so similarly that it loses its true meaning. I've even, at times, stopped "feeling" the pain that the victims are suffering, because I've almost become used to it. which is... ducked up.
this one, however, managed to bring something new to the table. This was fun, whilst all the time staying in topic and not being funny in a "joke" kind of way, but rather small, subtle comments and observations make it funny. I also found the main character herself to be very likeable. she comes across as a whole person with a complex personality - not "just" a victim. She's also a good friend, she can be sharp tounged, but also gentle. she can be funny, but also vounerable. Even better: she's likable without being painted as perfect or flawless.
The way the story is constructed makes this a bit different from other books about the same topic. It felt like a mystery at times, and I didn't know exactly what was to be revealed. For a time I suspected that the main character was of the unreliable sort, then I thought maybe the whole book was based on false memories, and ... well, it got me curious, and the truth was gradually exposed at a very comfortable pace that allowed me to take it all in without feeling rushed, whilst at the same time never becoming slow and a drag.
In addition to being about abuse, it's also about friendship, loyalty, family ties, the fine balance between independence and vonerability
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes