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bookishwhims's review against another edition
5.0
If you are going into this account of the heinous crimes of Shelly Knotech with the expectation of getting answers as to "why" a person does something like this or what turned her into a person who could do these things, you will be disappointed. The goal of this book is to tell the story of her victims and perhaps her longest-suffering victims, her daughters. This is the story of three sisters' horrific abuse at the hands of the person(s) meant to love and protect them most in the world. I'm not leaving this book with all the answers I'd like nor am I leaving feeling as though justice was achieved, but that is true with most crimes.
This book and this story, I fear, is going to stick with me for a very long time.
*Check tw*
*audiobook*
Graphic: Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
timikat716's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Murder
goosiana's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Excrement, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty
nuuamuikkunen's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Medical content
kahbarrow's review
2.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
cardlikecredit's review
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Excrement and Death of parent
oofie's review against another edition
4.25
Shelly is one of those people who patently proves that not all people are inherently good. She was a terror growing up, and it just got worse when she had children and partners of her own. She is a narcissist and sadist who delights both in wreaking havoc, despair, fear, and pain.
Shelly mentally, emotionally, and physically abused each of her husbands and three daughters. She gaslit them, made them think that it was their fault, and conscripted them into being co-conspirators. The poor people in her life and circle went through so much literal torture and abuse from living with her. This story is one of the most disturbing I've read due to all the above, and the insane amount of manipulation this woman did to those around her.
This book also hit a little close to home because my own brother is a narcissist. While not being anywhere near Shelly's level (thank god), it was a little shocking reading some of the things she did and realizing that those are things my own brother has and would do to me, my siblings, and my parents.
Furthermore, I appreciate this book because it goes into victims of abuse. Why didn't those around her just leave? Run away? Why didn't they fight back? When you're a victim of abuse, however, it's never that simple. It is a mindfuck, and no one is immune from it. It is incredible to see the strength Shelly's daughters had, however, in finally escaping from their mother and bringing them to justice. I just wish the courts would have meted out far more justice than they did.
The book is well written, was easy to understand, and fascinating to read. I hope that Shelly's victims can find some measure of peace and be estranged from her even when she's out of prison.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
n_binversie99's review
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, and Incest
sydneylneel's review
3.5
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
serenaann's review
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Self harm, Terminal illness, Excrement, Vomit, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury