Scan barcode
neverlandpages4's review against another edition
5.0
I have not felt this immersed in a book in a long time. This book broke me down and taught me so much at the same time. I felt like I was there with the author because of the intimate use of second person POV. The intense and honest details of the relationship were terrifying to read, knowing that this is biographical. I don’t have the right words to describe what this book made me feel, but I think that it’s one everyone should read because it’s life changing.
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
• I’ve already raved about this author’s writing but I’m obsessed with her writing!! I was mesmerized by the vivid imagery and the creative and unique metaphors. I could try to describe how good the writing is but I don’t think I would do it justice. And I loved the second person POV and how it addresses the reader.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬
“How do we do right by the wronged people of the past without physical evidence of their suffering?”
• A lot of this book centers around domestic abuse, psychological abuse, and abuse in queer relationships. It talks about how so many people aren’t believed when they speak out about their trauma because it isn’t physical or visible.
• I went into this expecting a story about an abusive relationship, but it was so much more. There’s a lot about queer history, queer characters, stereotypes, and much, much more. I felt like I learned a lot from this. It immensely changed the way I view so many different things from abusive relationships, to heteronormative relationships, to villains, and a lot of other things I never thought about.
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭
• This book has the most genius format ever. The author was able to capture how abusive relationships are a never ending cycle through the format of this book and it’s one of the most creative things I’ve ever seen.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Rape, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racism, Sexism, Gun violence, Vomit, Torture, Murder, and Pregnancy
rieviolet's review against another edition
3.5
I did not get along with the narrative structure, I found the rapid-fire succession of chapters (supposed to show different genres and narrative styles) too much disjointed and confusing. The writing style is a bit too much experimental for me.
I liked much more the chapters that were "essay-like", exploring queer history and theory. However, I think that this mixing of informative chapters together with more literary and elaborately written ones was a bit jarring, it felt like two different books mashed up.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Lesbophobia, Body horror, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Abandonment, Mental illness, Sexism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Gun violence, Medical content, Drug abuse, Torture, Cursing, Car accident, Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Bullying, Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Dementia
cemeterygay's review against another edition
5.0
If you are looking for an unusual exploration into domestic violence in queer relationships, I could not recommend this enough
Graphic: Homophobia, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, and Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Additional CW: Sexual abuse, assault, grooming, emotionally abusive parents,hannibanani29's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Drug use, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Biphobia, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Dementia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
moerl's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness, Biphobia, Homophobia, and Murder
jaiari12's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Violence, Gaslighting, and Murder
saintsunshine's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Drug use, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and Fire/Fire injury
rosalind's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Murder, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Vomit
whentheresteeth's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Biphobia, Bullying, Classism, Fatphobia, and Hate crime
beforeviolets's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the literal definition of poignant. I’m afraid to say too much, like speaking on the book in something so trivial as a review on the internet will pop the bubble of its magic. It feels insulting to try to put my reading experience into a summary of judgments. I could speak for days on its mastery. I can’t wait to read more of the brilliance that is Machado’s writing.
TW: intense discussion and portrayal of toxic relationships and domestic abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual), assault, homophobia/lesbophobia, sexism, grooming, panic attacks, eating disorder (mention), alcoholism, abusive parental figures (emotional), vomit , murder (mention), blood (mention)
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Murder, and Blood