Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Strange Sally Diamond

In the beginning I thought this book was as 4/5 star read, but I was disappointed by the ending. The first half of the book was really good, but later on the story dragged. Also as mentioned above I have a problem with the ending, because for me it was hastily written. I understand what the author tried to achieve with this ending and I think I could have been great if the author had written it with more insight in the character.
But to end this review with a positive note, I really liked the character development of Sally Diamond. It was understandable and for me it brought some sense of hope, which was beautiful (but sadly destroyed in the ending).

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nicolestegall's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Although this was a tough read, I could not put it down. And could not stop thinking about the characters. This will stay with me a very long time.

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ericabailey004's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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thara_pei's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This is a Dark, twisted, funny heartbreaking, and terrifying story that hooked me from the beginning. I would say the name Strange suits the story most. The story jumps from present and past in two different POVs and I enjoyed the writing style.
Have SERIOUS trigger warnings. so I highly advise you to proceed with caution.

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happyknitter2020's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

It's simply one of the best psychological thriller books I have ever read... likely the best book I will read during 2023. Recommend this to everyone, listened to penguin audio book, which was great to hear the 2 voices.

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bookwormellie's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I was kindly given an ARC of this amazing book by Penguin Viking and I waited for a little while to read it as I just knew from the blurb that I would devour it in one sitting.

I devoured it in three hours.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent follows Sally, who we meet on the death of her father. Sally takes things rather literally so, when her dad says to put him out with the rubbish when he dies…that’s what she does. This triggers off a series of events that changes Sally’s life forever, and reveals a series of long kept secrets.

This is my first book by Nugent and, at first, you do think you’re reading a book similar to that of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Sally is a gorgeously complex character and I became very protective of her, even though she doesn’t always do the right thing. It becomes clear as the novel goes on that Sally’s past has very much informed her behaviour in the present.

Nugent then twists the story by adding a second perspective. I’m not going to go into spoilers, but it gets dark. There are trigger warnings aplenty: rape, kidnapping, forced imprisonment, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, suicide. However, despite the heaviness of the topics, Nugent’s writing has a light touch, and nothing ever feels like trauma for trauma’s sake.

This is a wonderfully dark novel that, at its heart, asks the question of nature vs nurture. Can we really forge a life outside of our biology? Our upbringing? Are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of our parents? And what is “normal” anyway?

I don’t give star reviews, but if I did, this would get the full 5. One of my favourite reads of the year so far. Thank you so much to Penguin Viking for sending me this!

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elread0's review against another edition

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