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jenneyrebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Two faults: 1. the beginning feels hollow and cliche - a coming of age story about a gangly redhead whose always the new kid at school. (But this quickly evaporates into a compelling and beautiful family drama.) 2. There are a few plot points that feel like they happen only because the author needs them to do something (create tension, let time pass).
It has been a long time since I stayed up all night reading a book. I could NOT put it down. It absolutely hooked me with its themes of domestic abuse, mother-daughter trauma bonding, horrifying discoveries about one’s own parents … and with such a satisfying ending. There are people who would fault the book for not being dark enough, for plot points that aren’t cruel enough. Not me.
And the imagery was great! I have never been to Alaska but I felt I could imagine the town and the people vividly. Two of the heart-rending quotes that stopped and caught me will tell you precisely the core of what this book is about:
“You could always tell when Dad was gone. Everything was easier and more relaxed in his absence.”
“The baby’s minuscule fingers closed around hers. A searing, cleansing, enveloping love blew her heart into a million tiny pieces and reshaped it.”
They seem simple but went to the heart of what hooked me about this book - the felt sense of being in a household with an abusive man
Graphic: Terminal illness, Gore, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Rape
craizydaizy1014's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, War, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Death, Cancer, Murder, Blood, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Animal death
pagesinthesnow's review
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Gore, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Violence, and Cancer
Moderate: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Cursing, Animal death, Car accident, and Child abuse
Minor: Vomit, Misogyny, Classism, and Fatphobia
shiftycow1313's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: War
amurray2023's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
rebonk's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Terminal illness, Car accident, Cancer, and Blood
Minor: War and Pregnancy
srq_book_lover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Murder, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief
sputnick94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Murder, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
brittanyyingling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Blood, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death of parent, Death, Pregnancy, and Cancer
Minor: Car accident, War, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
sarahfeller's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Medical content, Alcoholism, Car accident, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Gore, Grief, Murder, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, War, Mental illness, Violence, and Vomit