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squishymini's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
clmoore's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The Places I've Cried In Public follows our main character who is grieving, healing and reminiscing an old, abusive relationship. I think that this novel handled the process of grieving in a very respectful and healthy light. It spoke of the importance of receiving help. I think this novel is beautifully written and feels genuine which definitely impacted your connection to our main character.
One thing that I enjoyed while reading this novel is the way that the author had made the main character seem more like a villain at certain times. I feel like it made this novel more relatable seeing the way that being apart of an abusive relationship can, in turn, impact you. It also showed how it can impact your relationships which was extremely impactful to read about. As someone who struggles mentally I felt that this authors interpretation of mental health and depression and the days 'blurring together' in a sense was extremely accurate and hit rather close to home.
One thing that I enjoyed while reading this novel is the way that the author had made the main character seem more like a villain at certain times. I feel like it made this novel more relatable seeing the way that being apart of an abusive relationship can, in turn, impact you. It also showed how it can impact your relationships which was extremely impactful to read about. As someone who struggles mentally I felt that this authors interpretation of mental health and depression and the days 'blurring together' in a sense was extremely accurate and hit rather close to home.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
toscareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The novel is about a girl, Amelie, who was in an abusive relationship with a boy, Reese. The book switches tenses to detail events as they happened in the relationship, and then to Amelie looking back on those experiences, trying to understand why what he did was abusive.
It’s a super easy read, but encompasses such an important topic. I think Bourne did a great job of not making a story about a rather heavy topic too difficult to read. It allows a younger audience to also understand that a relationship like the one detailed in the book is abusive, and it spreads awareness, but simultaneously makes it clear that that is not the end. There is hope.
I also think that in a lot of fantasy stories, or even romance novels, unhealthy relationships can sometimes be glamorised; the thrill of the chase, saying one thing and then doing another, being hateful to one another one minute and then kissing the next, etc. I think it’s good that there are also books out there that discuss that maybe ‘excitement’ isn’t always favourable over ‘safety’ when it comes to love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
ellas_escapism's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
"I called Eden worse names. Because we always make the girls the villains rather than the victims."
okay, firstly I just want to say that this book is obviously so so so important to highlight typical behaviours in a toxic relationship, and that everyone's views are subjective - just because I didn't enjoy this book doesn't mean you w
However, I just really disliked the main character and all of the other characters (apart from Alfie I guess). Amelie gives me very much 'i'm not like other girls', but this has nothing to do with how she reacts within her relationship. At the very beginning of the book, before meeting Reese, she was so annoyingly "quirky" - she has a shyness rash and the author constantly uses the word 'bloom' to describe it.
None of the other characters were developed at all and even Alfie (who is supposed to be a massive part of her life) is pretty one-dimensional. Hannah, Jack, Jessa and Amelie's other so-called friends appear very little in the book - which I do get because it is a story surrounding Amelie and Reese - but it would have been nice to have them be developed and play a bigger part in Amelie's life.
okay, firstly I just want to say that this book is obviously so so so important to highlight typical behaviours in a toxic relationship, and that everyone's views are subjective - just because I didn't enjoy this book doesn't mean you w
However, I just really disliked the main character and all of the other characters (apart from Alfie I guess). Amelie gives me very much 'i'm not like other girls', but this has nothing to do with how she reacts within her relationship. At the very beginning of the book, before meeting Reese, she was so annoyingly "quirky" - she has a shyness rash and the author constantly uses the word 'bloom' to describe it.
None of the other characters were developed at all and even Alfie (who is supposed to be a massive part of her life) is pretty one-dimensional. Hannah, Jack, Jessa and Amelie's other so-called friends appear very little in the book - which I do get because it is a story surrounding Amelie and Reese - but it would have been nice to have them be developed and play a bigger part in Amelie's life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Rape
cateemma's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, and Gaslighting
sarachidouinlovemail's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
sineadmulcaire's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
katie1603's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting
espeonesque's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It comes across as teenage slush until about halfway through and I think that's to its absolute credit. You're just about to write it off and then you realise how wrong you were. I think it's an accurate depiction of abuse and how hard it is to spot when you're in the middle of it. The storytelling puts the reader simultaneously in the middle and outside of the relationship, so we get to see what the main character can't while also understanding why she can't see what we see. Important.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault
angelicathebookworm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Cursing, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship