Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - Trust Exercise

There’s a lot going on in this book and it would make for a great book club selection with much to discuss. I haven’t decided fully yet how I felt about it but I have definitely thought about it a lot while reading and since finishing and probably will for awhile yet. I think this book wanted to provoke conversation and shed light on the harms done by sexual predators in schools and I think it succeeded at that but as many reviewers have said it’s also a challenging, confusing, maybe somewhat elitist read that I read two articles about after to make sure I’d understood it. So I dunno. I’d suggest checking the content warnings, and also deciding if you’re up for a unique somewhat challenging structure, before picking this one up…

Content Warnings

lgw3456's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

first section (literally) uncomfortably good, only becomes more convoluted as it goes on. if youre looking for a book full of unlikable liars youve found it!

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levc's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

augustpeach_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

I read this during a day of traveling through multiple airports, layovers and flights.
I found the novel had enough tension for me to keep reading, wanting to solve the questions I had relating to the dynamics of the characters. However, I finished the novel with more questions - all was not as it seemed. Which, I believe ... may be the point.

I felt like the last act was rushed, which was unfortunate because that featured plot was my favorite.
I purchased the book and am planning on donating it.

If you feel compelled, another read-through of the book could be helpful ... I don't plan on reading it again so I will be donating my copy ... If I feel compelled to read it again, I'll reach out to my local library.

Content Warnings

readbycarina's review

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

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? It's complicated

2.5

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mia_merrill's review

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

lucinotlucy's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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readwithbells's review against another edition

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4.75

This is probably the best written thing I’ve read all year. Everything was so well woven together, the characters were so specific, and never once was I confused about what was going on (unless that was clearly the express purpose). This book reminded me how much I love reading, how much I love the format of books and the flexibility of books and the creativity of authors. This shit was stellar. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is I can’t in good conscience name something as a favorite book that has so much teenage sex in it 😂 I was just too uncomfortable. And that was the purpose and I am kinda penalizing the author for what the story is literally about but that’s personal reviews for ya.

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