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ziinnias's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
I'm going to start this off by saying I think this author has potential, but she thought she was giving more than what we received with a bit too much purple prose.
The beginning was rather slow, hard to sink my teeth into, but since I was listening as I was working I kept with it. It does pick up after a few chapters.
Her writing style felt rather clunky - she wanted to swap between main character POVs in the same scene/different chapter, but it gave off the constant impression of "okay we're moving forward aaaaand now we're back to like ten minutes before the scene we just read about but packaged slightly differently. Alright." There are better ways to tackle multiple POV, and I don't think the constant slight-backtracking works.
This had me going back a bit and trying to remember why we're talking about comp-het with a character I thought was always the lesbian. The analogies surrounding Maya's comp-het were good - that feeling you can't always shake no matter how much you shove it away, not wanting to think about it. Even though in theory I relate to the struggles these characters went through when I was their age, I never felt connected to them or compelled to their stories.
Despite the two characters being pretty different from each other, I never really felt like their voices were conveyed distinctly. As I listened to this in audiobook format, if it were read only by one person the entire time, it may have taken me longer to realize there were multiple POVs. I'm uncertain if this is the fault from her clunky writing style, weak editing, or perhaps both. It reads like something you'd find off fanfiction.net, or someone's unedited nanowrimo project.
Spoilered for plot and CW-relevant talk:I appreciated that throughout the book, healing was never depicted as linear. As someone that dealt with similar religious homophobia, it's an all encompassing even when you're aware that you're technically safe. Aisling's mother felt almost out of place and cartoonish, but relaying abuse can feel like that to outside perspectives! That's a big give and take.
I think this book could be good for the YA crowd, especially those wanting to explore sapphic themes, coming of age/getting to know yourself, unaccepting family, LDR, and life surrounding alcohol abuse.
The beginning was rather slow, hard to sink my teeth into, but since I was listening as I was working I kept with it. It does pick up after a few chapters.
Her writing style felt rather clunky - she wanted to swap between main character POVs in the same scene/different chapter, but it gave off the constant impression of "okay we're moving forward aaaaand now we're back to like ten minutes before the scene we just read about but packaged slightly differently. Alright." There are better ways to tackle multiple POV, and I don't think the constant slight-backtracking works.
This had me going back a bit and trying to remember why we're talking about comp-het with a character I thought was always the lesbian. The analogies surrounding Maya's comp-het were good - that feeling you can't always shake no matter how much you shove it away, not wanting to think about it. Even though in theory I relate to the struggles these characters went through when I was their age, I never felt connected to them or compelled to their stories.
Despite the two characters being pretty different from each other, I never really felt like their voices were conveyed distinctly. As I listened to this in audiobook format, if it were read only by one person the entire time, it may have taken me longer to realize there were multiple POVs. I'm uncertain if this is the fault from her clunky writing style, weak editing, or perhaps both. It reads like something you'd find off fanfiction.net, or someone's unedited nanowrimo project.
Spoilered for plot and CW-relevant talk:
I think this book could be good for the YA crowd, especially those wanting to explore sapphic themes, coming of age/getting to know yourself, unaccepting family, LDR, and life surrounding alcohol abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Child abuse, and Homophobia
gracewiley's review
sad
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Homophobia
vivelelivre's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
camillatd's review
putting this one down because of the alcoholic abusive parent plotline
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Homophobia
kindra_demi's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The story has the potential to be a beautiful coming-of-age story about a WLW relationship and healing from the trauma of one's childhood, but it falls a bit flat. I wanted to like this story, and I think if it had more workshopping, I would. But I struggle with the story because it feels like it's not complete. I am usually fine with having this open-ended ending where it leaves you questioning what could come next for the characters, but this book felt like it just ended in the middle of the ending.
I struggled with a lot of the writing because it would at times feel like there was so much time dedicated to creating the atmosphere and describing details, but for a story so short, there's not the space for that kind of writing. It often made me just kinda gloss over parts of the ending because I wanted to connect more to the characters instead. Yet this character connection remained missing.
I definitely will keep following Clementine Taylor's work as I think there is so much potential.
I struggled with a lot of the writing because it would at times feel like there was so much time dedicated to creating the atmosphere and describing details, but for a story so short, there's not the space for that kind of writing. It often made me just kinda gloss over parts of the ending because I wanted to connect more to the characters instead. Yet this character connection remained missing.
I definitely will keep following Clementine Taylor's work as I think there is so much potential.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
mothie_girlie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
As always thank you to publishers and Netgalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review. Please check TW!!
This review contains spoilers, please avoid parenthesis and asterisks if you want to avoid spoilers!!
This book gave me all the feels! I loved the relationship between Aisling and Maya and was rooting so hard for them to get together. The way their story is so real, especially for children of religiously abusive parents. The expression of trauma and grief and how it shows up in even the most wonderful of relationships if you don't take the time to heal was absolutely gorgeous. While not everything was handled the way I wish it would <spoiler >getting absolutely wasted in front of someone that has experienced abuse from an alcoholic is an awful thing for a person to do, partner or otherwise>/spoiler >
I did thoroughly enjoy this book, I would have absolutely rated it higher if it was properly handled. I will absolutely be looking forward to more from Clementine Taylor!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
thecottoncandyunicorn's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
This is what I imagine a Sally Rooney novel would be like if I actually liked Sally Rooney. Seriously though, I really liked this book. It was beautifully written. The ending twist came a bit out of nowhere, but it in no way ruined the book for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
trussell12's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I absolutely loved this book! It was so hard to put down!! I fell in absolute love with the characters and really like the way in which they were written (especially Maya). The ending took me by surprise. I definitely was not prepared for the plot twist.
I’m thankful that I got approved by Net Galley to read this.
I’m thankful that I got approved by Net Galley to read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Homophobia
Minor: Gaslighting
abbylw's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Homophobia
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