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treebjork's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning & ending are gorgeous. But I wish this book came with a trigger warning -- many graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse.
mlsweeten's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
I'm not sure what to say about this. It's well written and the author is great with words but there's enough abuse of a minor that I felt yucky reading much of it. I think the second half is much easier to get through, but you have to read the ick for it to all make sense. It's about lost love and acting on those regrets. Many of the adults in this book are quite damaged and consumed with dealing with their own problems that they are inattentive parents, creating even more problems. Read with caution.
mpacer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
So beautifully written — the prose outweighs the heavy subject matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
jiannad07's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Memorable characters that make you frustrated but attached
kelsharr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Child death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Death
Minor: Suicide, Terminal illness, and Miscarriage
omp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
My first statement about this book is that it needs a trigger warning. Child sexual abuse, rape, and incest hit deeply in this novel. Almost every character has endured some trauma, has had no therapy, and inflicts continued damage, in one way or another, on those around them. It's not a story to like. It's a tale of secrets and how they continue to eat at those who hold them.
lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
As far as writing goes, this book was beautifully crafted. The characters are achingly real, and the description of childhood summer life at a rickety cabin on the Cape hits the nostalgia mark in a big way. And yet, I can only give this 3 stars, mostly because of the story itself. The story heavily featured sexual assault, troubled marriages, child abuse, murder and infidelity. These themes do not make for a pleasant read for me, no matter how pleasantly told. I wish I had realized the triggering content before I picked it up. Additionally, our main character makes very flawed choices. Like bad person flawed choices. And none of the other characters are too great either with the result that they are just not that like-able. Sure, we are all flawed, but I had trouble having tons of sympathy for any of them. Lastly, I hated how the book ended, but tip my cap to the author for how it was described on the page; it was a stunning conclusion.
gljes927's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-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
3.0
shaclarke's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0