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atcarp17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism and Child abuse
willowbiblio's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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This book kind of felt like two distinct halves. The beginning felt almost unreal because of Eleanor's complete lack of awareness of the impact of her words and actions on others. It was also confusing because it sort of felt like the author was ascribing these challenges exclusively to childhood trauma.
The second half felt so strong, and gave me the sense that the author has been intimately familiar with substance abuse, PTSD, and depression. The way that she wrote about loneliness was so apt, like it's this thing we are ashamed of in this age of ultimate connectedness. Yet so many of us really are alone and isolated.
I think I was also confused by the interactions with Eleanor's coworkers and the way they bullied her. This added to the unreal quality of the first half, but I may also just be lucky to have never been in a work environment with that kind of overt bullying.
I loved the friendship with Roy and how, bit by bit, Eleanor learned to trust and care for someone else. The way that so many women gave her unconditional acceptance, assistance, and support was truly beautiful. I also loved how Eleanor was so devoted to her cat, because I've had those moments of feeling responsible to care for myself so I can care for my cats. I was definitely surprised a bit by the plot twist with Mummy at the end!
Moderate: Child abuse
sgrunwald96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Rape, and Death
kaileylebrun's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent
phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a story about a very unwell woman. Who does outrageously inappropriate things because she is unwell.
My greatest quibble is Eleanor purports to be very good at crosswords, particularly cryptic (the best kind) and yet she is lacking in so much pop culture knowledge that this cannot possibly be true. Even cryptics, which rely heavily on wordplay, necessitate a basic foundation of cultural knowledge. Like, girlie doesn't know who the Grinch is. She is not completing crosswords.
Otherwise, it is an interesting if uncomfortable novel.
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
klsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Child death, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, Confinement, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, and Sexual assault
Minor: Murder, Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, and Cancer
llipari1022's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder
h_sloan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse
geerbeer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ook dacht ik in het begin; wat saai, waarom lees ik dit eigenlijk, maar al snel werd ik toch nieuwsgierig naar waar het boek naartoe wilde gaan en echt al mijn hoop werd beantwoord! Wat een lekkere 'ride' om te nemen, het verhaal in dit boek. Heerlijk ♥️
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, and Vomit
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, and Death of parent
All the content warning things are either used in a beautifull and thoughtfull way to tell an honest story ór they are redeemed at the end (like the fatphobia and bodyshaming)... to me it seems like the author is not a bad person / only using terrible things for shock value 😊rosietomyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I admit I was rather surprised by just how dark Eleanor's backstory is, and somehow missed any references to that in reviews I read prior to picking it up. For those who have dealt with narcissistic caretakers, substance abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, etc -- take caution. I wish I had gone in more prepared for it.
Still, though it can absolutely be emotionally taxing/triggering to read, the novel is worthy and uplifting. Eleanor definitely takes a bit of getting used to, but she is easy to warm up to after a few chapters. Following her growth and the expansion of her social and emotional life is truly heartwarming.
I would definitely recommend the novel, but I would add some warnings as well. Definitely pick the book up, but do so only when ready to read about some heavy, depressing, and truly awful issues (child abuse, emotional abuse, substance abuse).
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse