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shereadsmysteries's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Ableism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Misogyny, Rape, and Stalking
Minor: Vomit, Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Abortion
Ableism: Discussions of keeping/terminating a pregnancy where child could be disabled; Abortion: discussion only; Child death: Stillbirth; Rape: False rape allegationssylvestra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Medical content, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Rape, Death, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, and Vomit
caitmcv'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Abortion, Child death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Pregnancy, and Stalking
ayannamaslog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, and Rape
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Animal death and Child death
thenonbinaryc's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Ableism, Abortion, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
kyptonight's review against another edition
0.25
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Abortion
kjwaddell'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
3.75
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abortion, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
stephvt22's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Eating disorder, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Stalking
Minor: Abortion, Suicide, Murder, and Animal death
peppers_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The premise of the story sounds really interesting and unique, but when executed felt really unrealistic and flat. This was really disappointing as the beginning was relatively strong - it went downhill exponentially after the first fifty pages. Also, absolutely none of the characters were likeable. They were tolerable at best, and outright irritating at worst. At points I was so annoyed with Emma's character that I would've literally roundhouse kicked her if given the chance. I also really disliked how her sections were written without quotations. Like?? why?? And I just never understood any of the character's decisions and actions. I felt like a majority of the book had no purpose, like it contributed nothing to the plot and was just a space-filler.
On top of the whole mess that is this entire book, I felt the way that certain topics were discussed was really crass. How sexual assault is used as a plot device, how the only criminals in the book are Black and poor, how abortion and disabilities are discussed. Just a giant mess.
Anyways, I am furious that I spent five bucks on this book as well as precious time not only reading it, but thinking about the terrible characters after the fact. -10/10 would recommend. I have never felt this strong of a dislike towards a book.
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Rape, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Abortion, Ableism, Medical trauma, and Eating disorder
Minor: Drug abuse and Cancer
bbsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I really enjoyed how this book explored psychology and why certain characters were driven to do the things they did. It made me question the intentions of other characters as well.
However, there were elements to this book that made me really uncomfortable and probably not in the way the author intended. First of all the sexual scenes were really cringey, as was a lot of the writing. “Yes daddy yes” made me want to throw up in my mouth. I’m not trying to kink shame at all but something about that really didn’t sit well with me, maybe because I knew it was written by a man? I also hated when they wrote “so he’s like” before a character’s dialogue, it just didn’t work for me.
Another thing that made me really uncomfortable was the opinions on abortion and disabled children portrayed through this book. I think it is Jane who refers to abortion as “cowardly” but later decides to terminate if her baby is diagnosed with Down’s syndrome. I know this book came out a few years ago now but those opinions just felt outdated and unnecessary.
Emma’s character really grated on me, especially as she started to unravel and I was put off reading the book a couple of times by the thought of having to read more about her.
I wish they had ended the book with Emma’s letter, that last chapter from Jane just felt unbelievable and fell flat.
Overall a good mystery book that will keep you guessing until the end, if you can put up with the annoying characters throughout.
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Abortion