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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
Great story of a mother and daughter both having to re-build their lives after brutal domestic abuse - loved the weaving of back story with the current time - topic and story lines were handled deftly.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence
Edit: I've been thinking about this book a lot since I wrote my initial review, and I have some more thoughts. Something was bothering me about this read, hence the 4 stars, but initially, I couldn't put my finger on it. Husband character (already forgot his name, which is telling in itself) was not fleshed out enough. I had a hard time connecting to his character because his purpose was really just to contradict Shelley's perceptions of men. He was supportive and good and intensely sweet, but I think my gripe is that he was too perfect. It's not that I am unhappy that Shelley found another chance at love - it just felt like every other character had depth, whereas he was lacking.
After thinking about this book more, I think Shelley's story would have been more impactful if she had started her own woman's shelter when she was single. I love Shelley's second chance at love, but I wish it had been less of the story. It felt a bit like - "not all men" and "See?! Look! You CAN have a man do things for you" as an entire theme of the book instead of empowering Shelley to make some of these choices on her own.
I thought the most interesting and touching parts of her story were the bits where Shelley was supported by the women in her life: her grandma, friend, and eventually her mother. I felt like the female relationships carried this book.
Again, it's not that I hated that she ended up with someone else. I just wish the book focused more on Shelley and her journey than on husband 2.0. Or, at the very least, I would have liked him to have been more fleshed out as a character.
I still really enjoyed this read, and I stand by my initial 4-star rating.
‐---------------‐‐‐‐----------------------------
Really lovely read! I liked how Pearson tackled domestic violence and showed all of the different ways you can have love in your life. I went back and forth on a 4 or 5 star rating, but in the end, I felt the last chunk was a little bit repetitive.
After thinking about this book more, I think Shelley's story would have been more impactful if she had started her own woman's shelter when she was single. I love Shelley's second chance at love, but I wish it had been less of the story. It felt a bit like - "not all men" and "See?! Look! You CAN have a man do things for you" as an entire theme of the book instead of empowering Shelley to make some of these choices on her own.
I thought the most interesting and touching parts of her story were the bits where Shelley was supported by the women in her life: her grandma, friend, and eventually her mother. I felt like the female relationships carried this book.
Again, it's not that I hated that she ended up with someone else. I just wish the book focused more on Shelley and her journey than on husband 2.0. Or, at the very least, I would have liked him to have been more fleshed out as a character.
I still really enjoyed this read, and I stand by my initial 4-star rating.
‐---------------‐‐‐‐----------------------------
Really lovely read! I liked how Pearson tackled domestic violence and showed all of the different ways you can have love in your life. I went back and forth on a 4 or 5 star rating, but in the end, I felt the last chunk was a little bit repetitive.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes