Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - Pretending

I didn't particularly like this book. I like what Holly Bourne was trying to do, I think, but I think this story got lost along the way. I also find myself skimming her writing but somehow it keeps me reading, so she gets 2.5 for that.

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dieerlesene's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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bibs's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I've been thinking about this book after I came across someone saying that they didn't know who was the target audience for various reasons.

It did trigger my trauma and I didn't even notice. I think this may be not for you if you've gone through something similar and haven't processed it yet (although this is supposedly on how she healed?????).

I hated the depiction of Gretel, it felt very reverse pick-me. It didn't relly feel like the criticism of men's idea of women that it was trying to be for me personally. April felt a bit self-centered; I understand she was feeling insecure because of Gretel's "coolness" but the hate felt excessive.

Besides, I think the book should have some warnings about its main theme (sexual trauma). I learned about it from an interview so I was aware but I don't know about picking this up at the shop, you'd probably not have a clue.
The synopsis is pretty bad at describing the content and I felt that April needed to grow more as person because the way she treated Josh and the resolution felt undeserved.

Overall, it still had a positive outcome for me, I started volunteering at a Center against Domestic Violence, so I fewel like it was worth it, personally. And my original review still applies.

-- 1st review --
(TW) I enjoyed this book quite a bit and I finished it so fast. I think the end was a bit underdeveloped, I was expecting way more before they reached a resolution. Overall it was a really good read, and it pushed me to search for ways to help people in regard to abuse and rape in my home country.

I think in the beginning I was worried about and not enjoying the generalizations being made, but I understand being a young adult myself with mostly positive encounters both with men and relationships, that other people can have really horrifying experiences in those matters and cope with them differently.

I think this is a very important topic to discuss and that was treated with delicacy in this book. I think it lacks diversity but I understand the world depicted may be based on the author's perspective.

The characters felt very real to me especially Josh and April. Although April is somewhat over the top I can understand her actions.

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