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cheye13's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.0
There's also a serious lack of followthrough on the science fiction elements. The origins of "The Spill" are never addressed; an internet-based attack only severely impacts the U.S.; people who continue to use screens after "The Spill" end up with some new kind of dementia for some unknown, uninvestigated reason. And I found it hard to believe that "The Spill" would be that destructive; while I don't doubt revealing certain figures' online activity would be an upset, I do believe the majority of people live an average, mediocre life, even on the internet.
That being said, I found the concept of Constellation and the seceded island interesting, and I enjoyed following these women's stories. This is one of those books where the promise of the premise exceeds the execution.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abortion, Body shaming, Violence, Bullying, Alcohol, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
Minor: Racism, Dementia, Xenophobia, Cancer, Animal death, Child abuse, and Confinement
The catastrophic event referred to as "the spill" involves everyone's darkest internet secrets coming to public light, which entails a number of crimes and possible triggers mentioned in briefest of detail. While the act of suicide itself is never described in detail, the event is talked about at length.chandlerwood'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
Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Grief, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Dementia
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Deportation, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Infertility
keijiwolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Medical content, Racism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Infidelity, Abortion, Cancer, and Fire/Fire injury
clawrence345's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual assault
Moderate: Dementia and Drug use
cursedepub's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story balances the large-scale movements of past and future (connecting two settings, 35 years apart, with events in one directly causing events in the other) very well with the personal journeys of the main characters. Everyone in this book is very real. Most of the time they aren't likeable - many times they are petty and small-minded, hypocritical, self-centered, and ruthless (in ugly, unglamorous ways), but I found myself rooting for them all the same.
The book isn't perfect - some of it is over-the-top, sensational, or overwrought, and the ending is a little too sentimental for my taste. I'm not sure I agree with how things were resolved. But I got way more than I bargained for in this, which I was very happy to discover.
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Medical content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Fatphobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship