Scan barcode
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Narrated by Farrah Cave and Beth Easdown
Unabridged
Absolutely adored Every Exquisite Thing, so was excited to see that Steven's debut was available through my library app.
This is a sapphic, modern gothic retelling of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I'm not sure if it wad the share name of Lottie combined with the sapphic grumpy x sunshine, but it at first had a wholesome likness to The Rosewood Chronicles. It also reminded me of Claire and Elise from The Coldest Touch.
This was such a good story!
I definitely see improvements in storytelling and writing style in the delivery of the modern gothic/dark academia genre, going back to this after reading Every Exquisite Thing, but it wasn't off putting.
The conversations did feel a little more juvenile than I'd expected but it was easily overlooked once I connected to the characters and got really invested in the story.
This inspiration of the classic has made me appreciate the themes of mental health that the original introduces.
I hope there are more in to come from these retellings, as I see these as becoming very beloved.
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual harassment, Murder, Sexual content, Bullying, Child death, Toxic relationship, Gore, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is reported to be dark and "funny". Dark yes, funny much less so. The animal murder is resolved in a way that makes it less traumatic to the reader, but at the time it happens it's very dark and disturbing. As an animal lover, I had to stop reading the book for the day after that scene.
I get where the author was coming from with the message about female anger and how it needs to be accepted and we need to change the sexism in the world. I really wish the author had stayed away from harming animals. I'm a person who prefers human death to animal death in fiction.
The book was decent. I liked the premise but the execution wasn't as good as possible.
Extra ratings: Fluff - 0/5 Heartfelt- 4/5 Helpful-NA Horror- 3/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-3/5 Predictability- 3/5 Spice- 0/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 3.5/5 Thrill- 3.5/5 Humor-1/5
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Self harm
Minor: Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, and Dementia
sovner736's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Sexism and Blood
Minor: Sexual harassment and Vomit
styxx'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
Moderate: Violence, Animal death, Self harm, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Premise (from the author’s own description!!!):
🥀 f/f enemies to lovers
🌲 Northumberland in the 90s
🔮 sinister rituals
🖤 slow burn romance
🩸 all-girl fight club
🌞 grump/sunshine
🛏 there’s only one bed
🔪 hurt/comfort
Thoughts:
Hmmmm, what to say, what to say…. I love a sapphic reimagining with ace representation of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde but I especially support young angry femmes.
It was giving Wednesday x Enid & I didn’t hate that!
Graphic: Death, Violence, Animal death, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Gaslighting
thecourtofreading's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, and Animal death
Minor: Sexual harassment
_p0ssum_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Suicide and Self harm
Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Child death, Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Misogyny, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Vomit, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Torture, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Stalking, Alcohol, Grief, and Rape
Minor: Infidelity
hayleythegoose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Violence, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Body horror, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
itsnotalakeitsanocean'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Things I liked about it:
- It filled that Dark Academia niche that scratches at my brain on occasion.
- It was nice seeing a POC who is heavily implied to be autistic and have a sex life.
- It was nice seeing a slow burn, non-sexual sapphic relationship
Some minor nitpicks:
- I don't think the author realises you can be sapphic and asexual at the same time in the case of Lottie. Seeing how rare asexuality is portrayed in media (let alone respectfully) I can understand where this misunderstanding comes from, but maybe some further research/sensitivity readings would be warranted next time.
- Some of the descriptions can be a bit repetitive and sometimes got repeated pages apart from each other.
The antagonists gave up far too easily. The girls' victory felt too easy when all they did was essentially walk up to a secret society meeting (in the back of some bar no less), barge in, speak up and threaten one of the family members and that was it. The clues were there for Dacre's true motivations but the "mystery" felt a bit half baked There were a bunch of loose ends that just ended up being dismissed at the end, almost in a very out of place fourth wall break as if the characters knew we'd be questioning these loose ends too.
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment