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chloebear21'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? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Murder, Rape, and Child death
Moderate: Cancer and Domestic abuse
Minor: Infertility
ssarahbbeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Infertility, Infidelity, Child abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Incest, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Vomit
day_dreaming_vampire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Rape, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Infertility, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual content, Vomit, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Child death, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Car accident, Incest, Infertility, and Body shaming
lindavs22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Violence, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Grief, Confinement, and Child death
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Vomit, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Car accident, Child abuse, Abortion, Blood, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
phantasmaboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have some pretty mixed feelings about this book. First and foremost, there are serious trigger warnings for multiple, graphic sexual assaults (of minors!) throughout the novel as well as incest and domestic abuse. All this leads to a very dark plot that is very likely not something for everyone, so be careful while reading.
Breaking down my feelings, I thought the following:
The Setting
I enjoyed the setting of a somewhat remote area near a city, but not quite part of it. I thought that the small-town feel gave the story a dark atmosphere as well as built up tension regarding who is currently doing what to and with who.
The Plot
I cannot figure out why the author included the first 1/3 of the book at all. This portion describes Geo's time behind bars, but doesn't really add much to the story that could not have been handled had it not been there at all. The majority of the plot lines that begin in this area are not resolved or are resolved quickly with little buy in. Honestly, by the end it felt more like the author wanted us to see Geo traumatized in this setting before moving her home, so that the trauma could aid in "character development" (more on that under characters).
For the overall plot, I thought that it was okay. I would say that the ending is indeed a surprise, but only because the threads are not laid out for the ending to happen until the very last chapters. The ending itself felt pretty anti-climactic, however, and it left me scratching my head as to what the point of this story was. It was definitely more of a "tell" experience than a "show" experience.
The Characters
The characters are generally well-developed, but I do think that it fell into the realm of stereotypes at times. For example, nearly all the female characters are shaped through their traumas, typically sexual abuse, rape, drug use, domestic violence, abandonment, etc. By the end, I don't think there was one woman who was not defined by one of those things. Geo herself is shaped by them. Even one male character is completely defined by his traumas. These events become their entire personalities and character arcs. I felt like there was very little character building outside of the traumatic, and at some points it just felt like trauma porn.
Another thing that didn't sit right with me was the author's depiction of victims of domestic violence, assault, and rape. It seems that she paints these individuals in negative light, casting them as manipulative and not to be trusted. I got the feeling that Hillier felt that she was being dark and edgy in these portrayals, but ultimately just created stereotypical, surface-like characters that fail to develop.
As far as diversity goes, sure, the characters were diverse, but very little is done with their diversity other than point it out. The main character is mixed race, but other than telling us that, there is very little influence on the plot. With the exception of the jail portion, there is no talk that I can remember about how race could have influenced the events of the book.
Overall
Like I said, I didn't dislike this book, but I wouldn't put it on the top of my list either. I personally wouldn't want to read it again because of the graphic sexual assaults of minors and adults portrayed and how those individuals are treated in the writing.
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Child abuse, Murder, Rape, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racism, Drug abuse, and Infertility
silver_lining125's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Infertility, Gun violence, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, and Drug use
kpitsker's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, Death of parent, Incest, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Infidelity and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility
cathuluu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gore, Rape, Violence, Child death, and Confinement
Moderate: Infertility, Vomit, Fatphobia, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest, Infidelity, and Pedophilia
cady_sass's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Rape, Vomit, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, Child death, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Infertility, Infidelity, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Car accident, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy