Scan barcode
fatherkennn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
girlie the only reason I rate this book 5 stars is because Tom IS Harry Styles PERIOD. I absolutely HATE Tom, like if I ever see that cheeky mf in the streets it's on sight, but it's fine because it's harry:)
I think the title is super meaningful and important in how is relates to who Tom actually is to the readers- of the book and Patrick's journal. By the end of the book we still don't really know Tom, we never get his POV, we are merely shown his actions through Pat and Marion's eyes. And I think that's the same as how Patrick refers to Tom as 'my policeman,' keeping Tom from the readers. By the title also being 'my policeman' it rubs in the faces of readers that NOBODY KNOWS WHO TOM IS!!! Even to the readers he is only Tom, our policeman. ( I hope that made atleast a little sense...)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Outing, and Gaslighting
luccamaria's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"He needed me years ago, Marion." (p. 231)
yeah, fuck you marion, but also lowkey fuck you tom for continuing to be in a relationship with her and then blaming her for never leaving while it obviously takes two people to make a relationship.
i know what marion did was by far the most horrible thing in this book & this whole thing is fucked up for everyone involved, and mostly for patrick, but why is marion the only one being blamed when tom could've left her too, considering that he clearly didn't love her & it must have actually been easier for a man with a stable job to divorce and be unmarried in the 50s than it must've been for a woman?
also, we stan queen julia!
yeah, fuck you marion, but also lowkey fuck you tom for continuing to be in a relationship with her and then blaming her for never leaving while it obviously takes two people to make a relationship.
i know what marion did was by far the most horrible thing in this book & this whole thing is fucked up for everyone involved, and mostly for patrick, but why is marion the only one being blamed when tom could've left her too, considering that he clearly didn't love her & it must have actually been easier for a man with a stable job to divorce and be unmarried in the 50s than it must've been for a woman?
also, we stan queen julia!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Outing
vitolaaaa's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-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
so sad </3 such a beautiful book, i loved the way it was written. roberts did an amazing job writing it in such way that it felt like the letter and journal were intended to be read in the first place. i loved patrick and tom, they were meant for each other.
fuck the 50s!! fuck homophobes!!
and, most importantly, fuck marion!
fuck the 50s!! fuck homophobes!!
and, most importantly, fuck marion!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
valentina05's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual content, Violence, and Outing
jenniferburman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Outing
hmatt's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm not sure I was sold on this story throughout part I, but it came together beautifully and tragically as the perspectives changed back and forth.
Despite how synopses may read, this is absolutely not a book about the title policeman (Tom). While he is the main subject, the story tells us very little about him except for how his wife and lover perceived of him throughout time. It really tells us more about the relationship between his wife and his lover. A reader who neglects to acknowledge the unreliability of these two narrators loses the point of the story entirely, in my opinion. I found it brilliant because they are each so selfishly obsessed with their own idea of this man who doesn't have a voice of his own throughout the narrative.
Despite how synopses may read, this is absolutely not a book about the title policeman (Tom). While he is the main subject, the story tells us very little about him except for how his wife and lover perceived of him throughout time. It really tells us more about the relationship between his wife and his lover. A reader who neglects to acknowledge the unreliability of these two narrators loses the point of the story entirely, in my opinion. I found it brilliant because they are each so selfishly obsessed with their own idea of this man who doesn't have a voice of his own throughout the narrative.
'What about my silence, Marion? Did you ever think about that? You have no idea...' His voice cracked. He loosened his grip on me and turned his face away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Outing
Moderate: Sexism and Grief
Minor: Hate crime, Sexual content, and Violence
period-typical homophobia, sexismbookswithca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Moderate: Medical content
trintrin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
THIS. IS. THE. SADDEST. BOOK. I'VE. EVER. READ!! A cruel, raw, story in which three people's lives are utterly ruined, no happily ever after at all.
Not a fan of the writing style. There were wayyy too many Marion scenes for my liking. I don't think I've ever hated a main character this much. Wanted more of Patrick, and Tom was completely absent. But aside form that, it's a pretty good book. Apt to that era of time. Throughout the entire book, I kept imaging the characters as their actors, even thought I've literally never watched the movie (and the movie hadn't even been out when I read this too)
Patrick's jail time was just way too cruel man. Really glad Marion's "plan" backfired so spectacularly. Julia was the best, my fave. This book portrays the kind of prejudice the LGBTQ+ community had to put up with in the past, and still have to in some countries. So this was an eye-opener, in a way. But also, at times, it felt really obvious it was written by a straight white woman.
Anyways, I read this only for Harry Styles :D
Not a fan of the writing style. There were wayyy too many Marion scenes for my liking. I don't think I've ever hated a main character this much. Wanted more of Patrick, and Tom was completely absent. But aside form that, it's a pretty good book. Apt to that era of time. Throughout the entire book, I kept imaging the characters as their actors, even thought I've literally never watched the movie (and the movie hadn't even been out when I read this too)
Patrick's jail time was just way too cruel man. Really glad Marion's "plan" backfired so spectacularly. Julia was the best, my fave. This book portrays the kind of prejudice the LGBTQ+ community had to put up with in the past, and still have to in some countries. So this was an eye-opener, in a way. But also, at times, it felt really obvious it was written by a straight white woman.
Anyways, I read this only for Harry Styles :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Moderate: Suicide and Terminal illness
woolfism's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Outing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, and Gaslighting
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Medical content, Dementia, and Death of parent
bloopyfloopy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Minor: Religious bigotry