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amandalachelle's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cancer, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Murder, Grief, Mental illness, Violence, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia
shemcgee's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I would not consider this a romance. This is a beautifully written but terrible story. Our FMC Wavy is a young girl from an abusive family who forms an unlikely friendship with her father's associate that turns romantic while she is still underage. It's heartbreaking and while some have said they found themselves rooting for this unlikely couple to make it, I found myself grieving the life Wavy deserved. She didn't get what she deserved as a child, so I can see thinking that she should get what she wants as an adult, could even understand wanting that for her. However, I still think that the author wanted you to realize that while Wavy was extremely smart and mature for her age she still wasn't grown when they entered into the beginning of a sexually intimate relationship. She knew what she wanted, but should not have been granted it at that age because she wasn't old enough to understand consent. I have no doubt that Kellen loved her, and protected her in many ways, but not in every way. He still did the wrong thing by taking advantage of her. I know it's been a common occurrence throughout the ages for men to marry girls while they're in their early to mid teen years, and there have been many points throughout history when it's been considered normal; however, normal doesn't mean right. Kids need a chance to be kids. Wavy never got a chance for a safe childhood so in some ways it's like she never really grew up. She experienced so much trauma. So did Kellen. I don't think the author was trying to make you sympathize with or understand pedophilia, I think she was just trying to tell a story of two very complicated people in who loved each other in complicated ways that were definitely not always the right ways. They found a way to be a bright spot for each other in the darkness, and yet I think if anything, the author has shown us that sometimes, love just isn't enough to make a situation right. You might find yourself wishing for peace for them, but wondering if they do get peace, will that be enough for either of them to heal? Both of them are broken, albeit in different ways. Definitely a book that makes you think and certainly not a book for everyone. A troubling read that I would read again.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Addiction, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Blood, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Violence, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Bullying, Racism, Cancer, Racial slurs, and Vomit
samskiejo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Sexual content, Murder, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, and Cancer
erica_reads_things's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are many reviews that I have seen that reduce this to a " groomer pedophile book", and I have to disagree. We clearly see Kellan's perspective because it is written. We clearly see Wavy's perspective because it is written. This book highlights how complicated human emotions can be and are, especially amongst families and communities that have been deeply traumatized. Traumatized people sometimes make choices that others don't understand; that maybe aren't healthy or "right", but what they feel they and those in their lives need.
This book made me feel a lot of things: uncomfortable, sad, hopeful, weepy. For that, I'd call this a win. It's understandibly not for everyone though, so check triggers.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Body shaming, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Murder, Violence, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Rape
Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
tcrivera12's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
jreads2me's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Body shaming, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Death of parent, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
happilywilted's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The only characters I didn't dislike were Donal, Leslie, and Darrin, the guy that Renee dates at the end.
I spent the whole book wondering if the author was for or against grooming and sexual abuse, as she writes the perspective of both supporters and people against the two main characters being together, but at the end of the book on the authors note she talks about how making them not platonic was the only option and tries to justify it in some way.
Every page made me deeply uncomfortable in a way that I haven't felt since I read Lolita in 2019, which isn't surprising, because the author recommends Lolita as saying it is similar. Horrid.
I hated Kellen so much, as he was a groomer and child molester. I could’ve done without reading the descriptions of his smell, his sweat, and the graphic sexual descriptions of him, an adult, touching Wavy. I had bought this book back in October after it had somehow gotten in to my TBR pile on Goodreads, and I bought it having read no spoilers, just seeing that it was a "beautiful and provocative love story". Well, it was provocative, but it wasn't anywhere close to beautiful or a love story. It was a story about a groomer who sexually assaults a child and makes her think that the relationship they had was a family and safe. But really, he was a creeper.
I despised reading Amy saying that Wavy wanted him to touch her, as if that excuses what he did to her at thirteen. Also, the judge taking back the protective order because Wavy said she was a "real person". As if being real excuses a pedophile and allows him to contact his victim.
I mean, they met when she was eight. When they first met, he was described as a giant and I was confused because I assumed this was the guy in the love story, and wondered how a child could be giant, when much to my chagrin I found out he was around twenty years old. I wish the age gap could've been at least just four years if she wanted him to be arrested for what he did to further the plot.
I almost DNF'd, but since I owned the book, I wanted to give it a chance, but every page of people ignoring the grooming and allowing it to continue pissed me off and made me almost throw the book across the room. Also, mama didn't raise no quitter.
Thankfully, now I'm done, and can attempt to scrub my brain clean of this frustrating and uncomfortable read.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
amandalawrance's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Violence, Rape, Mental illness, Infidelity, Car accident, Addiction, and Death
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Cancer
mtehan7'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Sexual content, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Gun violence, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
pain_org's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Like I said, this book had no meaning behind it, and I’m not someone who wants to read this type of book with rose tinted glasses on like so many other readers did. This book was easy to read in black and white because that’s how it was told.
Also, “love knows no boundaries” on the back of the book is disgusting. Boundaries can definitely be set for “love”, especially when it’s an 8 year old and a 24 year old falling “in love.” That’s just not okay. Read “My Dark Vanessa” instead if you don’t want to read about pedophilia being romanticized.
Two stars because the writing and story telling was good. Three stars subtracted because this book was vile and uncomfortable and just felt like the author was grossly sexualizing an actual child.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use