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cmbohn'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Murder
alliereads_'s review against another edition
1.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape
stephaniealysse's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Dementia
Moderate: Rape, Eating disorder, and Alcoholism
hsteel's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Rape, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Domestic abuse
stungbythewood'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? Yes
3.5
I have mixed feelings about the whole thing and am left feeling unsatisfied.
I had some difficulty trying to describe what problems I had exactly with the characters when another reviewer had done so perfectly and it’s that these characters are characterized by their vices and that’s it…
I’ve found that this in particular made it difficult for me to like two out of the three very prominent female cast in this book. I felt like those struggles is all that those characters really were, besides being loving family members to Stephen. They don’t really feel like full fleshed out people, just tropes and stereotypes.
I also think Heather making up that fake story in an attempt to confront Rachel about her rape was wildly inappropriate,
and quite frankly, none of Heather’s damn business no matter how well seeming she tried to come off.
I also don’t appreciate how Rachel’s assault gets kind of glosses over toward the end of the book. Where Tully has resources available and it’s mentioned that her and her son are seeing specialists to help with their issues, Rachel gets with Darcy and suddenly everything is bright and shiny again.
I don’t want to say that it isn’t possible but :/ it feels very unrealistic for Rachel to have ignored this trauma for over fifteen years then suddenly she’s dating Darcy and things are okay.
What was the point of Fiona Arthur? Her character felt very under utilized as well.
Some positives, this book kept me engrossed, I finished it in two days which is a quick read for me, and I liked how most of the chapters were short. I find that longer chapters tend to feel more laborious to read.
At the end of it all, I have more questions than answers and am left with more confusion than clarity. I’ve heard some positive things about her other books in other reviews so I’m willing to give those a shot.
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Alcoholism
caitlinosullivan4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What I really want to know is, why didn’t Heather have marks on her neck when he choked her!? Does he know some special doctor way to do it that doesn’t bruise? Surely not. This is the part that is lingering and making me question the whole thing.
But then again… surely Sally wouldn’t write a whole novel about how the “good bloke” is wrongly accused and really is a good bloke all along?
I’m so intrigued to hear others thoughts.
Moderate: Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, and Rape
heatherv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Dementia, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcoholism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Rape, and Grief
destiny929's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Alcoholism, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Chronic illness, and Domestic abuse
tashy49's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, and Eating disorder
itsbexx's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Eating disorder