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camdelo96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
annabulkowski's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Incest, Infertility, Gun violence, Grief, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, and Confinement
sarah984's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book left me a little conflicted. In a general technical sense, the writing is beautiful, particularly in the sections in second person, and while there was sort of a feeling of being somehow distanced from the characters I think that might be necessary to get through some of the story’s tough subject matter.
I was expecting a heavy read but maybe not quite this heavy. The hopeful note at the end was nice but I was left wondering what I should be taking away aside from how difficult everyone's lives were.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual content, Police brutality, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, and Stalking
Minor: Ableism, Abortion, Drug use, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and Vomit
teacupsandfirereads'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
3.5
I know that this will be the right book for some and it will be loved, but also disliked. If you feel it might be one for you, please read content warnings. You need to be in the right head space for it.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Child death, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Incest, and Grief
Minor: Trafficking and Misogyny
slantedspines's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Although skillfully executed, this story is quite joyless and heavy, so I don’t advise anyone to pick up this book lightly. It is an incredibly raw portrayal of poverty, physical and sexual violence, and death, so do consider your own well-being while reading it.
Trigger warnings for this book: physical/domestic abuse, child abuse, rape, infant death, sex work, pedophilia, incest, murder, burglary, victim blaming, animal abuse, diarrhea, infidelity, gun violence
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Violence, Abortion, and Incest
Moderate: Addiction, Vomit, Trafficking, and Toxic relationship
birdbrainbooks'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
4.0
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The way Jones conveys the inner workings of an abused woman’s mind, how she has to view every item in her home and assess it for its ability to inflict pain, how she has to tiptoe constantly around anything that might anger her husband, is done painfully well.
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The way she reveals the complicated nature of power dynamics between people, particularly between men and women—and the way she explores generational trauma and how that affects who you become—is masterful.
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My main issues were that the pace was a bit slow and the sequence of events and glimpses into other character’s lives could have been tighter. I found myself not really thinking about the book when I wasn’t actively reading it, or forgetting about some characters after having been drawn into their story chapters before.
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All in all, pick this one up but prepare yourself—and I will absolutely be following Cherie Jones in the future.
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Infidelity
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, Stalking, Miscarriage, and Death of parent