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thecatsmum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Honestly, I think it would have been a better book if it was mostly told from Louise's POV for the first half to three quarters of the book or if Pinborough handled Adele's POV chapters better. It felt like the story lost part of its momentum by allowing the reader to know too much too soon.
A bit into the book I realised I had seen the miniseries that was based on the book a few years ago, and I wasn't impressed by the ending then, and I guess I wasn't now. So, despite the prose feeling decent, there were too many problems for me to rate this higher.
Graphic: Addiction, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Ableism, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Forced institutionalization
sallysimply's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Infidelity
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Ableism
lwalla01's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I ~basically~ got the twist, but I was 100% right so that was interesting. Louise is literally the most annoying character.
Moderate: Ableism
lalouveverte's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
It has weird fantasy/magical elements to it.
I disliked Louise for throwing herself a pity party every other page while flirting with a married man, so reading her chapters was a bit of a chore.
I loved Adele's chapters and was looking forward to them until the later ones, there was a noticeable switch in direction for her character. I guessed the first twist which I didn't like, but never anticipated a homophobic ending.
At the end of chapter 37, there's a slur which is unnecessary and vile as slurs always are.
The only upside of this whole ordeal is I will now ensure I double check my books to read have been recommended by various and diverse reviewers cause the straights are praising it.
Graphic: Fatphobia and Alcoholism
Moderate: Ableism and Homophobia
madelonpaige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia and Animal death
Minor: Abortion, Ableism, and Addiction