Scan barcode
glabour's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Geez, this book was one hell of a sad, emotional ride for me. There’s a lot to think about with this one, and the author pulls it off well. The writing isn’t anything to write home about and there aren’t any standout characters except for Jackie. Everyone’s voice blends together into one, unified sad mess. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it made it hard to sometimes distinguish who had said what and when.
“Hot Springs Drive” raises questions about the roles society puts on women and the expectations put on parents to take care of their children. Hunter shows how fragile the family dynamic and structure can be; how easily it can crumble when someone tries to step outside of it.
It also looks into where true intimacy comes from, and how sex becomes the only way that these desperate and lonely characters know how to feel and get affection; it’s the only expression that is real for them.
The first half of the book was more exciting than the second half since it read like an Enquirer article, but the second half was more nuanced, slow, and emotional.
“Hot Springs Drive” raises questions about the roles society puts on women and the expectations put on parents to take care of their children. Hunter shows how fragile the family dynamic and structure can be; how easily it can crumble when someone tries to step outside of it.
It also looks into where true intimacy comes from, and how sex becomes the only way that these desperate and lonely characters know how to feel and get affection; it’s the only expression that is real for them.
The first half of the book was more exciting than the second half since it read like an Enquirer article, but the second half was more nuanced, slow, and emotional.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Body shaming, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, and Mental illness
bookreviewswithkb's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
thank you @groveatlantic and @roxanegaybooks for the early copy!
“sometimes the sun will be the perfect yellow, not too hot, and there’ll be a breeze, and you’ll look up at just the right moment. that’s all you’ll remember, that’s all that matters, and thank goodness.”
this book was such a wild ride. i think the author is trying to say something about the pressure women feel to be beautiful, to take care of everything, to be invisible but present. how easy it is to ignore what you don’t want to see. how sometimes the lies become so big we can’t figure out how to get back to the truth
it was interesting and weird and sometimes too much for me and i never would have read it if it wasn’t published by @roxanegaybooks but i’m glad i did and if you like books that are somewhat on the thriller side with a lot of sex and betrayal and unlikeable characters, this book is for you
also WHY did the one Black character that was hardly mentioned have to be “good at soccer?”
also WHY did the one Black character that was hardly mentioned have to be “good at soccer?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Gore, and Body shaming
bella_cavicchi's review
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
HOT SPRINGS DRIVES occupies the same space in my brain as the trailer for Sydney Sweeney's ANYONE BUT YOU, except 10x darker. Roll with me.
In all seriousness, this was a compelling and well-crafted contribution to the growing cross-genre of domestic thriller and literary fiction. I really enjoyed it and managed to devour it in mere days!
In all seriousness, this was a compelling and well-crafted contribution to the growing cross-genre of domestic thriller and literary fiction. I really enjoyed it and managed to devour it in mere days!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Infidelity, Grief, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Body shaming, Murder, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
lorit1227's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
More...