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emilayday's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
I can't believe this is the same book I read 14 years ago and always randomly thought about and then I wasn't sure if it was two plot lines from the same book or two different books but I knew the cover art looked familiar when I saw this at the free library and then kept staring at it on my bookshelf. Anyway, it was great to reread the whole party about the alcoholic plotline again as someone who was then actively drinking vs now in recovery and I think Keyes really captured that storyline well.
Not that it's all a downer! There's some funny parts as well as Irish humor (US reader) and there's levity and even though it's a lot of pages, it's a face paced read.
I will say, it's also a different landscape now than it was then when the book first came out, as such you really have to be able to take a lot of insensitivity with a grain of salt to get at the bigger picture. Definitely racism and trans/queer phobia but then maybe that's the point of that character because it was mostly through Lola's lens on those incidences hmm. Still though.
Not that it's all a downer! There's some funny parts as well as Irish humor (US reader) and there's levity and even though it's a lot of pages, it's a face paced read.
I will say, it's also a different landscape now than it was then when the book first came out, as such you really have to be able to take a lot of insensitivity with a grain of salt to get at the bigger picture. Definitely racism and trans/queer phobia but then maybe that's the point of that character because it was mostly through Lola's lens on those incidences hmm. Still though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Transphobia and Abortion
Minor: Islamophobia
ceirid's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
mahamsiddiqui's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, and Islamophobia