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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
E-Reader
2.7
Definitely a page turner but the twists were a bit much even for an avid fiction reader
2.7
Definitely a page turner but the twists were a bit much even for an avid fiction reader
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
The sequel to the Ice Cream Girls. I have read that the author has said this could be read without having prior read the Ice Cream Girls so who am I to disagree with the actual author? However, I 100% do. I don't think you understand the weight of the past without reading the first book. Again, it's my layman opinion. Having said that, this is an ok sequel. I mean Ms Koomson tackles such challenging and uncomfortable themes with the honesty you'd expect. The thing with this sequel though, is that it has a few things that truly infuriated me and left me a dissatisfied. I kinda wish I didn't read it and just left it at book #1 which I thought was good. This was a let down when could have been amazing.
The things that bothered me mainly feature in the last third and I wish were rewritten. It also needs to be said that this book features abuse; either someone was abused, is being abused or was the abuser. Take note of reviewer trigger warnings.
#1 Howie. He could have been a very interesting character - I was hoping for more exploration of his abuse by a woman. Him being a black man and the prejudice that goes with that would have been a terrific story. #2 Logan. He was written in quite a shambolic manner. He's a nasty, calculating and abusive man. But has displayed none of these characteristics EVER in his life or with his previous long term partner? He just happened to snap with Verity because of who she is? Maybe that is the authors' point? That you can snap once or have unbridled rage due to the trauma of having a sister in prison for something she didn't do? I found his character believable until I no longer could. I get she is trying to show the ripples of the trauma but this doesn't equate. Maybe if he had been a delinquent teen or had a tumultuous relationship with his friends/family? I have never worked with an abuser that had zero history of dicey behaviour. Next problem is #3 Jack Halnsley and him being a pervy, flirty creep with Serena... umm wtf? That wasn't necessary. What is the author trying to say here? That he is a sicko like his father was? Also, him revealing that he his mother killed his father Marcus was told so impassively and in the most dissatisfying manner. I mean this is HUGE for Serena and especially Poppy and gosh I would have LOVED if this had came out and people would know that (a) Poppy and Serena are innocent but that (b) Marcus was an abusive sexual predator to not just them but multiple girls. This never came out in the trial and no police bothered to check if anyone else had been a victim to Marcus 30 years earlier so I thought this would be a beautiful, heart wrenching moment of the truth coming to light. We find out in book #1 that Marcus has abused more than one teenager whilst married to Jack's mother. Telling Poppy this under falsehood and god knows what else Serena had to do to get Marcus to tell Poppy his mother did it (it implied ore than just telling him more than just "about his dad") truly pissed me off. #4, I could not understand Serena's extreme hatred towards Poppy. They have shared experience but she spits vitriol any chance she gets, no matter that Poppy apologises god knows how many times. Serena even gets snarky when Poppy says Evan is a good man!!! I felt like screaming "stop apologising, Serena is a cow." Serena got zero prison time and her family has lived in relative peace for 30 years compared to Poppy and her family. Yes, Serena was sometimes recognised as an "Ice Cream Girl" but was otherwise left to live her life. I was hoping for more respect and a little compassion for her but it never arrived except for that tiny glimpse at the end. Ok and lastly, #5 the too frequent unnecessary vulgar language in reference to sex. I aint no prude but really? It's sex. No need to constantly spit out "f**k". Maybe it was the narrators but gave me the icks. Speaking of narrators, the lady that does the audio for Verity has a very wet mouth when she speaks. Didn't like her unfortunately.
The things that bothered me mainly feature in the last third and I wish were rewritten. It also needs to be said that this book features abuse; either someone was abused, is being abused or was the abuser. Take note of reviewer trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
I enjoyed this book and I think that Dorothy Koomson is a great writer.
I liked the characters I was supposed to and hated the characters I was supposed to.
My only real criticisms are that her villains tend to feel quite cartoonish which is a little off putting and when I started this book I wasn't fully convinced that the story needed a sequel.
An interesting read for sure and an ending that I'm quite happy with overall.
I liked the characters I was supposed to and hated the characters I was supposed to.
My only real criticisms are that her villains tend to feel quite cartoonish which is a little off putting and when I started this book I wasn't fully convinced that the story needed a sequel.
An interesting read for sure and an ending that I'm quite happy with overall.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting