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snazzy10101's review against another edition
5.0
i feel represented by Elizabeth Zott and also by the need to want to know someone who died more than you did when they were alive.
i’m so emotional.
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
halfcactus's review against another edition
4.0
The main character is pretty much a Mary Sue in every way you can imagine—she's quirky, she's highly intelligent, she's conventionally attractive and charismatic, she conquers labor pains by erging everyday, and she's Definitely Not Racist—but she is all of these things to criticize the flaws of a patriarchal and ignorantly religious society, so it didn't really bother me. Okay, the white savior bits kind of made me raise my eyebrows, as did the fridging of an offscreen gay character to make a Point about homophobia and give a straight character a Traumatic Backstory, but I just skimmed through them.
The science/STEM storylines felt more like TV science, but tbh everything about this book felt like TV logic, and I'm not knowledgeable enough in either the field or the subject to make a comment on it. Would not recommend it as a realistic depiction of STEM struggles, however.
CW: Rape, sexual assault... a "bury your gays" fridging subplot
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault and Grief
Minor: Homophobia
mandyjedi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Death, Homophobia, Rape, Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, and Racism
annierosebel's review against another edition
5.0
The pacing was great and it really succeeded in the balance of day-to-day life and plot-driving moments.
Elizabeth is such a great character - she seems neurodivergent-coded to me and I love her. Six thirty, BEST boy.
I also love the idea of women supporting women and how complex that can be - there isn't always a simple answer.
I am quite happy to suspend belief for a story as long as it isn't ridiculous, so things that other people say are 'soap opera esque' don't bother me too much. I also kept forgetting it wasn't set in modern day in a super conservative area, which, yikes.
I don't disagree that Elizabeth has a load of privilege being white, straight, and 'pretty', but I think this book already covered a lot and the subtle mentions of this were pretty than risking awkward, heavy-handed, bad content.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Suicide
miranda_is_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
My only flaw with the book, being a designer, is that the cover design (US) doesn’t fit the book at all. I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but knowing how design still sends a message and subconsciously influences people I was shocked to start reading this and realize it isn’t primarily a romcom type book at all. And romcom is the vibes the design totally gives in my opinion.
Beyond that this story was captivating to me. I loved the main character, Elizabeth, and all she stands for. I love how people around her could see her as stubborn, when she was just living authentically and in truth. I also enjoyed the ties to religious discussion in the book.
I can’t wait to watch the Apple TV show of the book and hope they stayed as true as possible to it.
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Blood, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Child death, Cursing, Bullying, Car accident, Grief, and Homophobia
louisehall's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
I have one personal dislike, and I feel like this might be an unpopular opinion, but I did not love Elizabeth Zott. There were times I did, and I was always rooting for her throughout the novel - she deserved it after all she'd been through! - but there were times I found her love of science too gimmicky I suppose. Maybe its because I read this part the same day I write this, but I'm thinking of how she started talking about the Babylonians when that reporter just asked why her dog was called Six-Thirty. I understand maybe not wanting to explain the personal meaning behind it but there was also no need to be a patronising smart ass 😭 Moments like those were few and far between for me though, and as my rating shows I thoroughly enjoyed this book and LOVED the inspiring message it conveyed. I also loved the character development of Miss Frisk - we've all known a woman like her and it was refreshing to see her grow!
Overall, I'd highly recommend!!
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide and Death
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, Car accident, and Grief
lunaviolet's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
lil_saddie's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Some spoilers further:
However, I wish I had checked for content warnings before reading because there are considerable themes of SA. I’m struggling with how necessary these multiple scenes and references were as a plot point since this wasn’t based on a true story. I know it was incredibly common in the workplace without consequence in a way that we have improved somewhat as a society today. But for a modern audience when 1 in 6 women have faced SA personally, who is the audience this narrative is trying to convince the severity of the situation to? We know the realities, and Zott being mistreated in the workplace without SA as part of the story feels like it should have been impactful enough. Not to mention how glossed over instances of pedophilia was for male characters. I guess in sum o feel those very triggering topics could have been handled bett
Graphic: Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexism, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Suicide
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Car accident, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Toxic relationship
redheadorganist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Suicide, Blood, Death, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Vomit, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Car accident, and Homophobia
Minor: Pedophilia, Child death, and Abortion
abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Classism, Cursing, Misogyny, Bullying, Stalking, Grief, Sexism, Suicide, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia