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ladylaurenexplorer's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
First I was like this is a cluster fuck of plot.
I don’t understand how these characters got together because of their personalities.
But as the president started to unfold, I really understood.
The past though is really chaotic for me.
I do understand building a wall around yourself so no one can hurt you even when you are in a relationship whether it’s friendship or as a partner.
I also was very disappointed in how they handled the addiction, but it’s a fictional story so!
I don’t understand how these characters got together because of their personalities.
But as the president started to unfold, I really understood.
The past though is really chaotic for me.
I do understand building a wall around yourself so no one can hurt you even when you are in a relationship whether it’s friendship or as a partner.
I also was very disappointed in how they handled the addiction, but it’s a fictional story so!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Addiction
Minor: Infidelity
kawaiikuma's review
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
3.0
Revenge cake is just what it says on the tin. If you have seen this author's tiktoks then it reads in her voice pretty well. Something about it is very distinct. I didn't hate the book it just wasn't my thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
theshrew's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Vomit
heabookfreak's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
I felt sympathy for Lani and disliked almost everyone else in the book. Her best friend Brenna was horrible except to Lani. Logan was insecure, manipulative, and unfaithful. The the whole mess was a classic tangle of codependency. I was wondering if this was a romance to the very end because it reads like a domestic melodrama.
I thought placing the blame for Logan’s neediness and relationship amnesia on his mother was trite and immature freudian psychology. Also where are Lani’s parents? They are barely mentioned. This is a college age book and because her emotional disconnect is attributed to severe anxiety disorder I felt there should have been at least as much contact or discussion of her parents as there was of Logan’s.
.
Lani’s ability to sustainably take as much Ativan as she was seems unrealistic. She would run out of her prescription. The book does not mention access to extra dosage. Her doctor might be “afraid” of her (seriously? I don’t think so) but would lose his license if he allowed so much extra dosage. Lani’s “recovery” from Ativan also seemed quick. Three weeks is a very short time to get off the drug and pull oneself together enough to formulate and carry out Lani’s twisted revenge plot. Three weeks is enough time to go to some meetings and start the gradual withdrawal from Ativan. According to American Addiction Centers, going cold turkey and flushing Ativan after taking such high dosage, “can be potentially dangerous and even fatal due to the potential to develop seizures during the withdrawal process. Ativan withdrawal usually occurs in two stages: an acute stage and a prolonged stage”. Because this a a major aspect of the plot and it was so unbelievable it really dampened my ability to immerse myself in the story.
I want to emphasize the irresponsibility of writing about drug misusage and (lack of) withdrawal in this way. I am a mature reader, this novel is directed to younger readers who may not know or do the research and then will carry on with false impressions about this process. She wrote about the Ativan fog but should have changed her timeline to reflect a responsible recovery process.
The ah-ha growth moments are not until the very end. While I had some sympathy I did not believe the relationship will become healthy without a great deal of therapy and am not convinced that Logan would follow through.
Other than lack of research and a potentially codependent, if not unbelievable reconciliation, the writing was good. She made me believe her characters. I could see all of them clearly and that might be why I hated some of them. I did like a couple of supporting characters. At one point I was rooting for Dean because he is quietly supportive, kind, and understanding without being a doormat. It is promising that Ms Mason can write such vivid characters especially since we are seeing the secondary characters through the main characters’ first person narratives. I will read her next book.
I thought placing the blame for Logan’s neediness and relationship amnesia on his mother was trite and immature freudian psychology. Also where are Lani’s parents? They are barely mentioned. This is a college age book and because her emotional disconnect is attributed to severe anxiety disorder I felt there should have been at least as much contact or discussion of her parents as there was of Logan’s.
.
Lani’s ability to sustainably take as much Ativan as she was seems unrealistic. She would run out of her prescription. The book does not mention access to extra dosage. Her doctor might be “afraid” of her (seriously? I don’t think so) but would lose his license if he allowed so much extra dosage. Lani’s “recovery” from Ativan also seemed quick. Three weeks is a very short time to get off the drug and pull oneself together enough to formulate and carry out Lani’s twisted revenge plot. Three weeks is enough time to go to some meetings and start the gradual withdrawal from Ativan. According to American Addiction Centers, going cold turkey and flushing Ativan after taking such high dosage, “can be potentially dangerous and even fatal due to the potential to develop seizures during the withdrawal process. Ativan withdrawal usually occurs in two stages: an acute stage and a prolonged stage”. Because this a a major aspect of the plot and it was so unbelievable it really dampened my ability to immerse myself in the story.
I want to emphasize the irresponsibility of writing about drug misusage and (lack of) withdrawal in this way. I am a mature reader, this novel is directed to younger readers who may not know or do the research and then will carry on with false impressions about this process. She wrote about the Ativan fog but should have changed her timeline to reflect a responsible recovery process.
The ah-ha growth moments are not until the very end. While I had some sympathy I did not believe the relationship will become healthy without a great deal of therapy and am not convinced that Logan would follow through.
Other than lack of research and a potentially codependent, if not unbelievable reconciliation, the writing was good. She made me believe her characters. I could see all of them clearly and that might be why I hated some of them. I did like a couple of supporting characters. At one point I was rooting for Dean because he is quietly supportive, kind, and understanding without being a doormat. It is promising that Ms Mason can write such vivid characters especially since we are seeing the secondary characters through the main characters’ first person narratives. I will read her next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Sexism
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