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kibiiiariii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Self harm, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Homophobia, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Ableism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Grief, Rape, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
pingi444's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Sexism, Murder, Rape, Drug use, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Body horror, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Physical abuse, Bullying, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Torture, Sexual content, Stalking, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
laureljanes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Alcohol, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Animal death, Eating disorder, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Death, Drug abuse, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Drug use, Sexual violence, Blood, Cursing, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Vomit
Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness
scalytor's review
- 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: Violence, Self harm, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Gore, Stalking, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse
mangooo_spagetti's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Stalking, Alcohol, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Death, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Vomit
lateromantic's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Cursing, Classism, Blood, Animal death, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Body horror, Alcoholism, Murder, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Addiction, Violence, Torture, Rape, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Drug use
lilyadams's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
alicerowano's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Outing, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Cursing, Body shaming, Blood, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Homophobia
owenwilsonbaby's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.
I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.
I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
nialiversuch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Dysphoria, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Cancer, Torture, and Terminal illness