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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everyone in this book is so deeply flawed. Amanda miscarried at 12 weeks, yet her body continues to carry out a pseudo pregnancy. Her husband, Derrick, joins an evangelical church and believes she is actually carrying a faith pregnancy. Amanda connects with Patrick, a neuroscientist who lost his niece in a tragic accident months ago, one which has pushed his wife Marissa to bury herself in her workâmathematical theorems that cover her attempt to speak to the dead or find proof of alternate universes.
Parts of this book were a little slow, but the second half grabbed me. The characters are very well fleshed out and ultimately, this is a brilliant debut novel.
Parts of this book were a little slow, but the second half grabbed me. The characters are very well fleshed out and ultimately, this is a brilliant debut novel.
4.5*
Amazing book. I truly loved the characters, kickass women in STEM, sign me up.
Amazing book. I truly loved the characters, kickass women in STEM, sign me up.
It was interesting but definitely dragged on a bit. I was left with a lot of questions and loose ends, and not everything seemed to make that much sense to me. But it was still pretty well written and kept me interested despite having little plot.
Picked it up because the pseudocyesis intrigued me, I do so love a medical mystery. I didn't expect to get as sucked in as I did - finished in two days! - and every twist and turn had me on the edge of my seat. I actually gasped out loud at several parts, and the last few chapters had me in tears.
The characters are expertly crafted, and so beautifully human. My heart ached for Marissa, I understood her as somebody who also retreats into logic and things I can understand when the world so aggressively does not, and I begged the point I thought was coming not to happen, but at the same time, I ached for Patrick and Amanda too, and I wanted them to be happy and to be able to move on and find peace. The last 10 or so chapters hit me like a truck, absolutely could not put it down, and I honestly felt satisfied with it, like this was exactly the best ending each character could have gotten (including Derrick, rot in hell Derrick <3) without doing anything out of character or bizarre. I couldn't say for sure what I was expecting out of this book, but what I got was absolutely incredible.
The characters are expertly crafted, and so beautifully human. My heart ached for Marissa, I understood her as somebody who also retreats into logic and things I can understand when the world so aggressively does not, and I begged the point I thought was coming not to happen
Spoiler
(and then got hit between the eyes with the reveal of what happened to Derrick, holy shit)
Kindle First Read.
Wow. I've never read anything like this book. It was one big metaphor in what felt like different dimensions. It was dark, psychological, and twisty. Some parts were dragged out a bit like during one of Marissa's perspectives, she had a monologue about consciousness that I will never understand no matter how many times I read it over.
I'm impressed with the amount of research writing this book probably took for the author. I didn't really like the time stamps and the going back and forth especially toward the end, it made the climax a bit confusing but nonetheless points for this book being different and enjoyable.
Wow. I've never read anything like this book. It was one big metaphor in what felt like different dimensions. It was dark, psychological, and twisty. Some parts were dragged out a bit like during one of Marissa's perspectives, she had a monologue about consciousness that I will never understand no matter how many times I read it over.
I'm impressed with the amount of research writing this book probably took for the author. I didn't really like the time stamps and the going back and forth especially toward the end, it made the climax a bit confusing but nonetheless points for this book being different and enjoyable.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Written from multiple points of view across various timelines, this book is a solid work of art from start to finish. We jump through various situations of loss, grief, and different coping mechanisms. Challenging topics include infidelity and the loss of a love one, which leave the reader, hopeful.
Overall, lots of strong life lessons that will leave me reflecting for some time.
Overall, lots of strong life lessons that will leave me reflecting for some time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment