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challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a challenging review to write. I had a hold on this book for quite awhile so when it came in, I had completely forgotten the subject matter. But even reading the synopsis, I was not prepared for this book. I thought Sally was a neurodivergent adult. She was direct (blunt might be a better description) and did not perceive social cues or had a clue what is considered socially inappropriate. I wasn't expecting a light hearted read, but I also was not expecting the significant amount of childhood trauma described in this book. It is rough stuff, so if kidnapping and child abuse is too much you better pass on this book.
This book explores how childhood trauma impacted the central character. Sally is born and raised in captivity with her mother. Her mother who was kidnapped and raped when she was 11. ELEVEN! I was so grossed out by this fact, but the details keep coming and then you understand why she has absolutely no memory of her childhood before age 7. Her abductor bio-dad is a racist, misogynist, abusive and cruel human being. I celebrated with glee when he burned to death in a car accident at the hands of his son.
Sally's character is so odd but yet you still want her to become all she can be. I was cheering her on as she forged friendships. I like how this story acknowledged that Sally really did not know how to feel and process things. It looked at how fucked up her adoptive dad was too and how he realized too late that he did not do right by Sally.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book but the subject matter was much heavier and harder to read than I thought it would be. I was a bit surprised by the ending of this one. If you decide to read, go into this with your eyes wide open knowing parts will be very uncomfortable.
This book explores how childhood trauma impacted the central character.
Sally's character is so odd but yet you still want her to become all she can be. I was cheering her on as she forged friendships. I like how this story acknowledged that Sally really did not know how to feel and process things. It looked at how fucked up her adoptive dad was too and how he realized too late that he did not do right by Sally.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book but the subject matter was much heavier and harder to read than I thought it would be. I was a bit surprised by the ending of this one. If you decide to read, go into this with your eyes wide open knowing parts will be very uncomfortable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape, Torture, Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was recommended to me in Waterstones and I kind of wish it hadn’t been. Well written and plotted, undoubtedly. But relentlessly disturbing and without a chink of redeeming light. It’s upset me quite a lot actually. Which is a sign of the author’s talent, but not an experience I’d care to repeat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fast paced, dark thriller. Think Room + Eleanor Oliphant. I couldn’t put it down despite the dark subject.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Car accident
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I may need botox after how much frowning I did! "Jesus Christ!" was also invoked quite frequently.
This book kept me engaged because of the constant plot twists and it keept me guessing. Though odd, Sally became quite a loveable character and I thoroughly enjoyed her growth, but also her bluntness (my favourite quote being "Stop calling me a racist." "Stop being one."). It was heartwarming to see her friendships blossom and I was gutted reading how they all kind of fell apart at the end.
I was really rooting for Peter and was so disappointed when he turned out to be just like his dad, more or less. Hey, a kidnapper with morals is still a kidnapper!
The ending was a bit of a let down for me because I was optimistic it would be a happy one, but I suppose Liz didn't want it to be predictable.
With that said, this was one of the most captivating reads for me in a while. I could hardly put the book down because I just wanted to find out what happened next! Liz did a good job with those cliff hangers.
This book kept me engaged because of the constant plot twists and it keept me guessing. Though odd, Sally became quite a loveable character and I thoroughly enjoyed her growth, but also her bluntness (my favourite quote being "Stop calling me a racist." "Stop being one."). It was heartwarming to see her friendships blossom and I was gutted reading how they all kind of fell apart at the end.
I was really rooting for Peter and was so disappointed when he turned out to be just like his dad, more or less. Hey, a kidnapper with morals is still a kidnapper!
The ending was a bit of a let down for me because I was optimistic it would be a happy one, but I suppose Liz didn't want it to be predictable.
With that said, this was one of the most captivating reads for me in a while. I could hardly put the book down because I just wanted to find out what happened next! Liz did a good job with those cliff hangers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book took me by surprise in more than one way. The synopsis does not hint at how dark the themes of this book are and when it is revealed at the start of part 2 (just under 100 pages in) it is shocking. I think the themes are tackled in a way that is easily digestible as there is a level of detachment from a lot of the most traumatic, disturbing moments (which were off page) didn't happen to the characters whose POVs we get. I loved Sally as a character, the growth she had and the inner turmoil she faced made her POV heartbreaking and heart warming all at once. I got frustrated with the side characters around her because they expected her to be understanding to things and others but it was not always reciprocated and she was never truly given the benefit of the doubt and treated like her choices mattered, especially if she made them on her own. The other POV was more heartbreaking. This is a story of how a negative cycle of behaviour can start (I am using negative but it is not even close to how dark somethings got) and how the cycle continues but I feel like there is hope at the end of the potential for these generational cycles to be broken.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic
This has a lot darker themes then the synopsis would suggest. You do read about a child being kidnapped and held in a looked room. You also can work out what is going on in the room where the 2 different women were held (one of which you meet after they have been there for 7 years already), and it does eventually being said / confirmed later in the book. However, you do not actually see what happens to these poor girls/women in this situation and you are reading about it from someone who never witnessed the worst of it. There is one racist character but they are confronted and challenged straight away and they face consequences which are so fitting. The book ends at the start of the 2020 pandemic so there is brief mention of it existing but no real detail about what it is or the effects. Mental health and trauma is also discussed and you do read transcripts from the first victim / person kidnapped, whilst in a psychiatric ward in the lead up before she commits suicide.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This is a 4.5 stars to me!
Wow, this book is very dark and full of trauma. It went a totally different way than I expected it to. I could not stop listening though, the themes of this book have a way of pulling you in. Plus, so much more is revealed than anticipated. I did take a little off the rating due to the ending. Maybe I was expecting something more elaborate or off-the-wall to happen. It just ended after so much "work" was done that it felt disappointing. It didn't have to be a happy ending, it just felt flat. Before reading this, please look at the triggers!
tw: sexual assault, rape, child abuse, physical abuse, kidnapping, death, racism
Wow, this book is very dark and full of trauma. It went a totally different way than I expected it to. I could not stop listening though, the themes of this book have a way of pulling you in. Plus, so much more is revealed than anticipated. I did take a little off the rating due to the ending. Maybe I was expecting something more elaborate or off-the-wall to happen. It just ended after so much "work" was done that it felt disappointing. It didn't have to be a happy ending, it just felt flat. Before reading this, please look at the triggers!
tw: sexual assault, rape, child abuse, physical abuse, kidnapping, death, racism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping
Minor: Racism
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy