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jesssicawho's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This story was particularly haunting and emotional for me. The theme of a mother's boundless love for her daughter resonated. But, you know, with horror and generational trauma because it's Catriona Ward.
Definitely read the TWs for this one.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, and Toxic relationship
lebishop13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
From the start, Rob's relationship with her husband, her family, and the world around her is bizarre and kind of skewed. You can't quite put your finger on what is so unsettling. Every time you find something else out, you have to just keep asking yourself, "but why?!"
And then the pieces start coming together. And you can't look away. But are they coming together? The two narrators are so at odds with each other, you really don't know who to trust.
I can picture this as movie with a really strong color palette that changes as the plot progresses or depending on whose POV you're in.
There's also some really great unspoken commentary on the ethics of science which was the cherry on top of this thriller.
Read this if you like thrillers with the house/setting as a character, along with unreliable narrators, and a dash of ethics thrown in.
TW: abuse - child, spouse, animal
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, and Self harm
kwoz1008's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
bookish_af's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Medical trauma, Confinement, Murder, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Bullying, Child death, and Medical content
a_novel_craving's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Animal death, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Death, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Self harm
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Quite enjoyed this. The twists and turns kept me interested along with the sister dynamic. Will def be checking out more from the author.
If you choose to listen to audio with the ebook, just a heads-up some wording is different from each other. Minor differences but could potentially throw someone off
Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Blood, Miscarriage, Medical content, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Violence
Moderate: Trafficking, Vomit, Kidnapping, Self harm, Torture, Confinement, Cursing, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Medical content, and Child death
Minor: Murder
noemi_qu's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Trafficking
bittie_bee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage and Animal cruelty
Minor: Drug use
eggplantia5's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Everyone is kind of the villain, (except Callie), but everyone is also trying their best. You don't really get to know Irving and find out why he's so terrible, although maybe just being a white male from a rich family is enough characterization?
The story unfolds well, even when I thought I figured out the twists in advance, there was additional color that made the payoff satisfying.
Borrowed from library, could see myself buying in the future.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Blood, Death, Gore, and Violence
sasisaskia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Death of parent, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse