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miaelizabeth13's review
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hijinx_abound's review
3.0
This book addresses really important subject matter. It started off well. The fall out in a domestic violence is not limited to the 2 main parties. This looks at what happens when kids are involved and the abuser ends up dead.
For me, this book fell apart in the middle. We start with three siblings but really only look at what happens with the middle child. I understand the need to focus on a specific character but there were three siblings and the loss of two of their stories left huge holes in the narrative. There were other holes in the plot, characters introduced and then never mentioned, the fathers job seemed a big deal then wasn’t, and a few characters seemed to only be there for one specific plot point.
For me, this book fell apart in the middle. We start with three siblings but really only look at what happens with the middle child. I understand the need to focus on a specific character but there were three siblings and the loss of two of their stories left huge holes in the narrative. There were other holes in the plot, characters introduced and then never mentioned, the fathers job seemed a big deal then wasn’t, and a few characters seemed to only be there for one specific plot point.
kstock4rd's review
3.0
daria_fox_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
martinezrenuncio's review
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shiradest's review
I cannot rate this book as it hits too close to home, and I also had trouble with the contemporary setting. I simply seem not to be able to relate to contemporary realistic fiction, even when the key circumstances are the same, or very similar, to what I have survived.
hannahjones238's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.75
username330's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
laurelinwonder's review
5.0
The reviews are all over the place on this, but let me begin by saying that after Smith's first two books, she is on my authors to watch for list. Her first book and this book are equally important to drawing attention to issues that matter. While this second book is a bit slower of a meditation, which is where I think some readers were lost; this slow careful portrayal of what it means to survive a fractured family, while still needing each broken edge.
I do not want to spoil this book by giving anything away, but know that Brooke is in a difficult spot, and how she reacts makes so much sense as we experience her grief and desires clashing as oxygen is pushed into the coals of what drives her. Smith has a unique voice, one that asks readers to understand that there is no one way to react to tradgedy, abuse, violence, and what we must take away is that what Audre Lorde once said: Our silence will not save us.
I do not want to spoil this book by giving anything away, but know that Brooke is in a difficult spot, and how she reacts makes so much sense as we experience her grief and desires clashing as oxygen is pushed into the coals of what drives her. Smith has a unique voice, one that asks readers to understand that there is no one way to react to tradgedy, abuse, violence, and what we must take away is that what Audre Lorde once said: Our silence will not save us.