Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

8 reviews

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.25

I liked the way that this story spilled out. I appreciated that it didn't dig too deep into

the assault scene

- that was something that I was nervous about. I appreciated a close look into everyday kleptomania, and I thought the discussion about abuse being all in the victim's head was really interesting. I hope it helps friends identify when folks in their lives need help and validation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Colonisation, Dementia, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse and Medical content

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

My actual rating for this book is 3.5, but I rounded it to 4.  I enjoyed the characters and the story, but there were a ridiculous number of issues in this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Vomit, Murder, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Blood, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Rape

madluck's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, Abortion, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Rape

mklein319's review

emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Murder

shereadsmysteries's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Dementia

Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, Death of parent, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Grief, Child abuse, and Infidelity

kerrygetsliterary's review

dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Physical abuse, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death, and Death of parent

aliasbooklover's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence

thebakerbookworm's review against another edition

emotional mysterious fast-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

2.5

I was so excited to read this book because I LOVED The Good Sister, the first book I read by Sally Hepworth, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations though I still enjoyed reading it.

I probably would have rated it higher if not for the ending.

I loved the different relationships between characters and the dynamics in this family. There was space for each character to breathe and grow, particularly the sister relationship between Tully and Rachel. But I liked Heather’s chapters too, and how she got fleshed out, though I felt a bit more disconnect from her.

The mystery was good too—it flips between our three narrators in the present and an unknown narrator in the future (I really enjoyed that reveal). My problem was with the ending. I had a good idea of where it was going, and then the last two chapters, everything is suddenly in doubt—or is it? I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to get from that last chapter because the most apparent conclusion (

that the women are crazy and the dad was not actually abusive

) and what it says about women is not one I like.

So I’m not really sure what to think of this one. I enjoyed most of it, and I like her writing style, but the ending left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read this eARC!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Blood, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Alcohol

Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Death of parent