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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. This book...was emotional for sure. It really makes you feel a lot of feelings. So in that regard, 5/5 stars. The reason it is not that overall is a deeper discussion on trauma storytelling - and trauma porn (or Misery Lit for those more dignified).
Before I get into that, I do want to say that, for a short novel, this book covered a lot. I felt like the main woman and the main girl were really well written and flushed out for the length of the story. I also thought their thoughts, emotions, and experiences were extremely well done and considered by the author. I also loved the themes on how motherhood is not conditional by any means.
Now, the discussion on trauma storytelling. To me this book was on a fine line of "is it a story about trauma to inform others and comment on society?" or is it, the commonly termed, trauma porn? It is hard to say. I think, personally, that unless the author is telling an own voices story (or as close as they can get), then a novel is less likely to be misery lit. The thing is this author works in the field of psychology - and has likely seen cases like this often. Not her story, but it is in her life and it probably comes from a place of reality. The other way I think is how the characters approach it. Is the trauma put out to readers for shock? How do the characters treat it? What is the outcome? The point? I think for the most part this story tries to be a commentary on society and motherhood, but I think it borderlines misery lit at times. The way the main woman hangs up on the girl TWICE when she is recounting this horrific event that happened to her? And the way that the novel ended less on the idea that we need to stop these boys/men from hurting young girls or stop the internet's abusive platforms but more so on how parents of rapists/serial killers/abusers are targeted for hate? Those made me uncomfortable as a reader. Like, yes, parents do have a hand in raising kids but the actions of their kids are also semi independent of them. Cool focus and cool theme, and I agree - people related to or friends with horrible people face backlash and hate that is unwarranted. But the way the story starts and hyper focuses on the girl's abuse and how it is so publicized made me think the heart of the story was on how men prey on girls (even when they try to help - like her dad) and how we hardly ever give victims or survivors a choice in their narrative. It was not that though! It was about the mother of one of the abusers! And her feelings! Again - valid and a cool concept to dive into - but that is not what I thought it would be, nor was that how I felt like the story was set up/going into. And that is why I have to knock off stars and worry about its borderline problematic storytelling.
Perhaps it could have tackled all this in a longer story. But it didn't. So overall meh. AJ Cook is a great audiobook narrator tho - felt like criminal minds home :)
Before I get into that, I do want to say that, for a short novel, this book covered a lot. I felt like the main woman and the main girl were really well written and flushed out for the length of the story. I also thought their thoughts, emotions, and experiences were extremely well done and considered by the author. I also loved the themes on how motherhood is not conditional by any means.
Now, the discussion on trauma storytelling. To me this book was on a fine line of "is it a story about trauma to inform others and comment on society?" or is it, the commonly termed, trauma porn? It is hard to say. I think, personally, that unless the author is telling an own voices story (or as close as they can get), then a novel is less likely to be misery lit. The thing is this author works in the field of psychology - and has likely seen cases like this often. Not her story, but it is in her life and it probably comes from a place of reality. The other way I think is how the characters approach it. Is the trauma put out to readers for shock? How do the characters treat it? What is the outcome? The point? I think for the most part this story tries to be a commentary on society and motherhood, but I think it borderlines misery lit at times. The way the main woman hangs up on the girl TWICE when she is recounting this horrific event that happened to her? And the way that the novel ended less on the idea that we need to stop these boys/men from hurting young girls or stop the internet's abusive platforms but more so on how parents of rapists/serial killers/abusers are targeted for hate? Those made me uncomfortable as a reader. Like, yes, parents do have a hand in raising kids but the actions of their kids are also semi independent of them. Cool focus and cool theme, and I agree - people related to or friends with horrible people face backlash and hate that is unwarranted. But the way the story starts and hyper focuses on the girl's abuse and how it is so publicized made me think the heart of the story was on how men prey on girls (even when they try to help - like her dad) and how we hardly ever give victims or survivors a choice in their narrative. It was not that though! It was about the mother of one of the abusers! And her feelings! Again - valid and a cool concept to dive into - but that is not what I thought it would be, nor was that how I felt like the story was set up/going into. And that is why I have to knock off stars and worry about its borderline problematic storytelling.
Perhaps it could have tackled all this in a longer story. But it didn't. So overall meh. AJ Cook is a great audiobook narrator tho - felt like criminal minds home :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was predictable but that doesn’t bother me. I thought it was a quick snack read and honestly I was here to listen to AJ Cook narrate. A very criminal minds aesthetic with her narrating.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
sad
tense
Similar vibes as Saving Noah and that was my first Lucinda Berry book… this is my last… until May. I feel like maybe the audiobook was better? Maybe? I don’t know. 3.25 stars and as always, check TW.