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what_karla_reads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Incest, Gun violence, and Gaslighting
theoceanrose'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Gaslighting, Car accident, and Murder
dailywaffle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Murder, Alcohol, Drug use, and Gaslighting
apworden'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
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Grief, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Colonisation, Sexual harassment, Violence, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Police brutality, Gun violence, Child abuse, War, Racism, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
mfallon3491's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Death, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Misogyny, Addiction, and Child abuse
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, Chronic illness, Incest, and Sexual violence
Minor: Gaslighting and Car accident
sampetsdogs's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have conflicted feelings about this book. I was hesitant to pick it up because it was advertised as horror, but after finishing it I would say it's more of a magical realism mystery. I did find the first half of the book to be mildly creepy with Cecilia's ghost and the Lofa monster. There was a creep factor in the second half of the book as well, but only because of the way that Debby's abusive husband and the appearance of a child molester are handled...this part really gave me the ick. Disclaimer -- these issues weren't technically handled improperly, but I just don't vibe with that whole "be the bigger person" and "the victim can't grow and move on without forgiving their abuser" tripe. Some people don't deserve second and third and fourth and millionth chances. Some people don't deserve forgiveness. Some people should have to live with the awful things they've done without being exonerated. But I'm getting personal, let's get back to the review.
I stuck with it because the mystery of Kari's mom was very compelling. While this storyline overall was satisfying, the resolution felt very rushed and tied together a little too neatly. I also really liked Kari herself, although she was mildly irritating at times. Without warning, she would have a flashback to her childhood and her best friend who died young, and it messed with the pacing of a story that, quite frankly, already has pacing issues.
Even with the issues, I enjoyed Wurth's writing and would be willing to try her next novel.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Incest, Murder, and Rape