Scan barcode
miranda_is_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
My only flaw with the book, being a designer, is that the cover design (US) doesn’t fit the book at all. I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but knowing how design still sends a message and subconsciously influences people I was shocked to start reading this and realize it isn’t primarily a romcom type book at all. And romcom is the vibes the design totally gives in my opinion.
Beyond that this story was captivating to me. I loved the main character, Elizabeth, and all she stands for. I love how people around her could see her as stubborn, when she was just living authentically and in truth. I also enjoyed the ties to religious discussion in the book.
I can’t wait to watch the Apple TV show of the book and hope they stayed as true as possible to it.
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Blood, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Child death, Cursing, Bullying, Car accident, Grief, and Homophobia
sweill803's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape and Sexism
Moderate: Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual violence
melchncookies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Grief, and Sexual violence
katjacatbeans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Elizabeth Zott is an inspiration of meticulous tenacity. I'm honestly speechless; the care and craft of all the characters is phenomenal.
I also deeply appreciate the unrelenting & uncompromising commitment to social justice throughout the text. There's a lot to take from that.
IT'S SO GOOD. I'm immediately watching the show on Apple TV.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.25
Even with all these caveats, I enjoyed the book very much, and I would highly recommend it. The author does an excellent job of showing how structural sexism harms all of society, not just women. The tragedies in the book feel very complex and human.
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Vomit, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Cursing
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Blood, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Outing, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Suicide, and Abandonment
Minor: Slavery, Sexual content, Gun violence, War, and Animal cruelty
hedgehogreads01's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Abandonment, and Rape
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Body shaming, and Child abuse
laurens_beanbag's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
With that aside, the actual content of the book was not what I expected either. I wish we could have explored more about how Elizabeth Zott came to form her feminist views, because her beliefs are similar to current 21st century feminism. While that’s not a problem by itself, we don’t explore how Elizabeth Zott came to figure out these views or how she was so ahead of her time. We just have to believe she’s not like everyone else. The rest of the characters in the book just aren’t on her level of understanding, but we don’t get to learn how Elizabeth got to this point. Where did she learn all these things? Why are the other female characters shown to be catty and superficial? Why isn’t Elizabeth given more positive relationships with other female characters?
This book did make many good points about feminism, and I did enjoy reading it, but considering this is historical fiction that takes place in the 50s and 60s, I wish the author did more to immerse us into the setting aside from just making every other character misogynistic and Elizabeth Zott the enlightened one. Despite this book’s flaws, I still did like reading it, and I think I should have gone into this book blind instead of placing so many expectations onto it. This is the author’s debut novel, and it’s well done. Had the book been marketed differently (which I understand is something the author doesn’t have much control over) I think I would have enjoyed reading it even more for the first time.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Death and Suicide
effervescent_4909's review against another edition
- 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
Readers should DEFINITELY check the trigger warnings before reading – there are some quite graphic and confronting scenes but these could be easily skipped (if you choose) and the rest of the story can still be followed.
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, and Suicide
readingelli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Death
Minor: Sexual content
bbmaan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Abandonment, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Child death, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Homophobia