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martideno's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
ashleysbookthoughts's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Car accident, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Rape, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Suicide
stevie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Cancer, Dementia, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Mass/school shootings
goodbyerachel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is on the slower-paced side but I think balances two POV characters and their dual timelines in the "before" and then the "current" timeline when they are in a treatment center for taking Mem. I was instantly invested in how they got from the before to the "current" and how both characters changed in such little time. However, the prose does meander a bit through their lives and memories and makes the reader sit with these characters a bit longer to get answers. To me, this aligned well with other literary fiction or character-driven pacing and with the themes of memory in this book.
I’d recommend this to fans of character-driven, lyrical prose, Black Mirror, and Blake Crouch.
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
juliannar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First, I would like to say that I think the premise of this book is really unique. Having a pill that can provide a person their memories is not that far off in my opinion. It's not quite present day, but not quite the future; think the LA where the movie "Her" is set. Also, the cover of this book is absolutely perfect. It really captures the novel.
As for the direction the story takes, I thought there would be a more of a dramatic reason as to why Sophie and Lucien end up at the Center. The summary kind of hypes it up, but the execution of that plot line fell a bit flat for me. I appreciated seeing the development of Lucien and Sophie's character, though I wish we had more development of Angelica's. Her development seems a bit fast, and when I first read her perspectives it read a little forced.
The pacing of this novel was a bit slow for my liking, and I felt I dragged myself along here and there.
Overall, I think Westgate did a good job with her debut novel; I really appreciated the unique premise. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, and Cancer