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chainsawheartbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“You are not searching for a thing so much as you are searching for an inconsistency of things, or an absence”.
A gorgeously written feminist tale set in two different eras; 1871 and 2021, and I truly found myself in love with both eras of the story.
Starting with 1871, the characters are so rich, you want to know more about them and I was sat at the edge of my seat throughout the latter half of their story.
Then we have 2021, which I struggled to get into at first, but as soon as Caroline found herself enamoured with the lost apothecary I was sold, and I kept wanting to tell her everything I knew about the past events to aid her discoveries.
Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed this book. It warmed my heart, and it was wonderful seeing how two stories, set decades apart, intertwined…and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear when I finished this.
A gorgeously written feminist tale set in two different eras; 1871 and 2021, and I truly found myself in love with both eras of the story.
Starting with 1871, the characters are so rich, you want to know more about them and I was sat at the edge of my seat throughout the latter half of their story.
Then we have 2021, which I struggled to get into at first, but as soon as Caroline found herself enamoured with the lost apothecary I was sold, and I kept wanting to tell her everything I knew about the past events to aid her discoveries.
Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed this book. It warmed my heart, and it was wonderful seeing how two stories, set decades apart, intertwined…and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear when I finished this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
ballousclues's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - phenomenal. highly recommend to all
My friend recommended this book to me recently since she read it and loved it. I didn't expect to fall in love with the story like I did. This book does an excellent job of reminding us that sitting in our own discontent doesn't do anything to aid us and that sometimes a leap of faith is necessary. The book follows the parallel lives of women in two different time periods and draws light to the similar stories they are writing. The story heavily focuses on character development and has a clear plot. The book was an easy read for me and the writing was well done. I could see there being a second book! It would be fun to get a bit of a follow up on Caroline through a bonus chapter or something.
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SPOILER
Like I said, I didn't expect to love this story as much as I did. It made my heart very happy that Eliza's potion worked as she had intended for it too and that she was able to share her success with Mr. Pepper. I like that the book leaned heavily into "we are all writing our own story" and that if we settle into our own discontent, we can't be surprised when it comes around to bite us. I love that the book allowed for Eliza, and maybe Nella, to continue on with their lives and gain a better hand in life from their run in with the law. I also really liked how the book talked about Caroline's toxic relationship. I think many folks have had a partner that has threatened, or attempted, suicide as a way to gain control in the relationship. I appreciated the message that you are more than what you may give yourself credit for and it's never too late to pursue your passions.
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SPOILER
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Infertility, Vomit, and Grief
This book heavily talks about the inability to conceive, or successfully carry a child to full term. The book also talks about infidelity and the fallout from cheating in a relationship. I would pass a word of caution to anyone who has strong grief around children or the concept of pregnancy.moon_peach's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
You follow 3 women (1 being a girl) and their stories. They have all been hurt by men in some way.
Nella being betrayed by her lover begins creating poisons for any woman that is betrayed.
Eliza is a 12 year old sent by her employer to obtain a poison for her husband. We pretty quickly discover he'd been lusting over her.
Finally Caroline discovers her husband's infidelity just days before their 10 yr anniversary. She takes what should have been an couple's vacation to London where she starts to unravel the mysteries behind a vial she finds that leads her to the "lost apothecary"
There's a couple twists in the book that are shocking and satisfying.
Nella being betrayed by her lover begins creating poisons for any woman that is betrayed.
Eliza is a 12 year old sent by her employer to obtain a poison for her husband. We pretty quickly discover he'd been lusting over her.
Finally Caroline discovers her husband's infidelity just days before their 10 yr anniversary. She takes what should have been an couple's vacation to London where she starts to unravel the mysteries behind a vial she finds that leads her to the "lost apothecary"
There's a couple twists in the book that are shocking and satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, and Vomit
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
avasbookmark's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Murder
acasiamae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, and Vomit
kabaoyang's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Blood, and Vomit
nadroj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
I love the way Penner is able to transport and immerse readers into an earlier time without it feeling too jarring or foreign.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Suicide
an_a_list_alias's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-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
3.0
Interesting premise and easy read, could be a tad faster at times. I believe the POV of the twelve year old could have been written better, too much telling (I.e 'in my TWELVE years of life...') instead of showing (acting or thinking like someone of that age).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Vomit
reka111's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
First, there was trust. Then, there was betrayal. You cannot have one without the other.
Honestly, even though this book used to be a DNF for me, I liked it immensely now. It was so lifelike, and I would even say modern, in a word, brilliantly written.
The characters were lovable, each in their own way (well, except for James, he was more of a toxicer) little Eliza was a staple of my heart, but Nella was still my favourite. The tremendous helpfulness, acceptance, and struggle that burned within her was extremely inspiring.
Although the plot ran on two time threads, it was not confusing, the events followed each other nicely, it was understandable and simple. Basically, it took place over a few days (both modern and past) so I think the time was right. I really liked the wording, it was a bit like reading a diary, and even the first-person POV didn't bother me. The end was closed nicely, albeit slightly open.
Overall, I really liked it and recommend it to anyone who loves history and poisons, but doesn't want anything big.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Grief
abigailhaagen's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This book felt like it couldn't decide what tone it wanted to go with, so it threw in a bit of everything. Sad, dark, lighthearted, contemporary, historical... and the characters didn't seem particularly fleshed out either. I didn't root for anyone except Eliza. And nobody had a strong moral code in this book; characters seemed to switch between being ok with crime and not ok with it, without any particular reason. The writing was also mid; lots of telling instead of showing. And I don't think this book is particularly historically accurate, based on other readings about the 18th century I've done. But it wasn't awful to read, and I liked the premise of the poisonous apothecary. So not a bad book, but not a great one either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Blood