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emmy_readz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Death, Murder, Gaslighting, Ableism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Alcohol
flamming_bluejeans's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Addiction, Violence, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Mental illness
Minor: Excrement, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
themichellegray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
While the content within this story was disturbing it was delivered in such a unique format. Both the pacing and reveals were masterfully written which held my interest until the very last page. Even after finishing the story, the author left me contemplating the narratives within this book and in real-world true crime "content".
There are so many layers to this novel and I'm impressed with Jewell's ability to simultaneously write a shocking story while providing commentary on the sensationalization of real-life cases.
Graphic: Pedophilia, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Blood, Grief, Alcoholism, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Incest, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Drug use, Body shaming, Animal cruelty, and Pandemic/Epidemic
courtney_scott1025's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Confinement, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Infidelity, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Death, Murder, and Fatphobia
Minor: Grief and Incest
ohyeahshebomb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Murder, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Chronic illness, Confinement, Pedophilia, Violence, Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Alcohol, Child death, Excrement, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, and Sexual assault
djmelodious's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Grief, Alcoholism, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Confinement
norwegianforestreader'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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cursing, Excrement, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Suicide, Violence, Eating disorder, Grief, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
this book made me angry in a bunch of different ways. i wish I had known going in that it centered around an abuse/grooming victim.
I know that a lot of the different characters act very true to life in regards to how pervasive victim blaming is & painting horrible people as martyrs or good men in their death. how someone being not entirely truthful can make everyone around them believe that then EVERYTHING is a lie, even when it isnt. so much of what happens in this book is very true to life.
however, I am still conflicted. honestly, what Josie did isn't ok. but neither is all she went through or how everyone treated/saw her. she was a woman who desperately needed help & care from such a young age and she never got that. a narcissistic mother, a married 45 year old man taking advantage of her as a young teen, her own adult children never seeming to understand how fucked up it is that their dad groomed their mother.
I don't know. I don't honestly think we're supposed to side with alix. I really don't. I can see how Jewel is also attempting a commentary on how true crime can sensationalize and twist stories about real people and turn them into something else entirely. and she's not wrong! but overall something just feels off with the way the subject is handled that doesn't sit well with me, but I also can't quite put my finger on it.
there's also a tiny moment of autism mentioned in regards to a character that also felt a bit... not quite right. just go in carefully with this one.
I will say either way that the audiobook is done EXCEEDINGLY well. a full cast & production. little touches that make the podcast moments feel like a real podcast. very well done, in that respect.
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Mental illness, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Confinement, and Medical content
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Rape