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booksbynat's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Emotional abuse
marisacarpico's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
I will say, Hoover really overwrites her characters’ emotional beats. So many sentiments felt repeated to death and his whole book could easily be 20-30 pages shorter and a lot more thrilling. The middle section, where this is just emotional manipulation and gaslighting is tough to read and not having to sit with it so long might make this more emotionally resonant overall. Hoover writes herself out of the corner she puts the characters into, but just barely. This concept might be easier to swallow as a film, honestly. We just have to suspend our disbelief and struggle to keep our sympathy with Leeds for too long in book form. I genuinely considered DNF’ing this for a minute.
The time jumping really felt affected for so much of the book and it ends at a key turn, but you can feel the construction in a way I didn’t like. Also, it’s too hard to believe a choice the characters make re: a visit from some guests in the last act. There’s a reason for it, but it’s just one step too far in asking us to believe theses characters aren’t dumb as fuck. Also, really stupid to ask us to believe Leeds is so curious about Willow yet never takes 5 minutes to see if anyone died in the house or to do some research into why the previous owners suddenly abandoned it. Hoover might be too big to get hard edits at this point, but her editor is asleep at the wheel if they’re just letting shit like that slip by.
Anyway, I seem really critical on this, but it’s got enough that works about it that I don’t think the flaws totally ruin the experience. It’s no Verity, but I do have to appreciate what Hoover was trying to do even if she doesn’t do it particularly well.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Body horror
violetfaerie's review
- 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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Stalking, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug use
pengi's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Eating disorder, Alcohol, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, and Gun violence
jaeleneh's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
kaddl's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
emilys_editions's review
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Addiction, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Blood
scribblerpages's review against another edition
3.75
First and foremost, Leeds? is by far the most annoying, selfish and big red flag character I have read this month.
The whole messed up plot is just a proof of how terrible and awful it is to be in a relationship with this guy, it's bad enough that I am stuck reading from his point of view. I had to take a pause every time he's being a big joke, and that's not the worst of it goodness he tries to justify and reason out his actions; there are a number
of times that I'm supposed to feel empathetic towards him and I feel like I should but I didn't because every hardship he's dealing with? I think he brought it all to himself.
I could go on and on and just explain and prove to you guys how dreadful Leeds is honestly. My hate towards him overshadowed the speck of mystery in this book. The supposedly shocking twist didn't surprise me, my initial reaction was a shrug, seriously? At that time I don't know what to feel anymore. Should I be thankful that all this time it wasn't cheating? But it definitely was and that's how twisted this story is. A Big Shiny Red Flag.
Just glad it's over, it wasn't a fun read and all I felt while reading is rage and disbelief.
If you're thinking of reading this for the romance? Run away dears, clearly this isn't one.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
queengaynor's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Holy Fuckballs... This was not AT ALL what I expected... jeez.... i have so many feelings... its 4am and i devoured this in 1 sitting and I'm sat in total shock. yes. yes. yes. WHAT WRITING
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma
lea_talisa's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief, Confinement, Gun violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity and Drug use