Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - The Ophelia Girls

The Details:
Narrated by Alix Dunmore
Unabridged

This was haunting and unexpectedly ... sensual... I don't know if that's the right word, exactly, but I wasn't expecting how much I'd be taken in with the beauty of the water and dense heat of summer compared to the innocent exploration of girlhood and how nostalgic that felt for me. Yet, in contrast, how this sweet and pure theme was manipulated in the present scenes and used to the advantage of an older and trusted character. It was uncomfortable but I couldn't stop reading.

In tone, this kind of gave me the Paper Palace vibes, and that makes me want to revisit that title because I had previously dnf'd it.

I loved how haunting the time period and season felt, which isn't a word I would usually use to describe summer and the 70s at all, but there was this whole heavy atmosphere that was rich in melancholy and the gothic and although it wasn't a thriller, there was such a dense layer of suspense and tension at every turn.

Depending on Maeve or Ruth's perspective, it was interesting how warped the mother or daughter's voice sounded to the perspective. As the reader, it was fascinating to see how the other viewed the others actions, justified their own, etc.

I feel like the fall out happened a bit too close to the end. I wanted the fall out to happen sooner so we could see more of the direct consequences span out, but I enjoyed that we got to see more long term scenarios, which felt like more closure than I was expecting.

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larade's review

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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eleanor_rose22's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I’ve got really mixed views. I wanted to love this so much and I spent so much time hating it.
I loved Ruth, I loved her playful girlhood and frivolous youth and her feelings towards Camille and the way her repressed identity haunts her until she can be free. I wanted/needed so much better for her.
Maeve?!? Pure Hate. The fact she was half the book was awful. Her boyfriend is a nonce, predator. I was furious how their relationship was mirrored to the ‘forbidden’ queer feelings of R&C. The pedophilia was so romanticised and disgusting. Hated the ending.
Gave me so much to think about in terms of male gaze/enforced objectivity of ones self through a camera etc. But plot wise it did not live up to expectations .
Also why did it have all my most obscure triggers in.

Content Warnings

carleeheise's review

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dark slow-paced

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

3.0

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rcsreads's review

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

A large part of this is just paedophile porn. There's no need for the inappropriate relationship to be gone into with so much detail.
The mother's side of the story would have been enough although it has some unpleasant, outdated and homophobic opinions expressed. The daughters story is actively disgusting and romanticised paedophilia.

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marymollyc's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense slow-paced

3.75

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