Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Crossroads

I loved this story. Being a mother myself their is nothing I wouldn’t do for my children. Losing them is one of my greatest fears and cause of much anxiety. This novella was both gut wrenching and horrifying.

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meganrae047's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

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sexytinatrainconductress's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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bozzi1's review

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.5

Spoiler Free Novella Review
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“I wish I could take it from you, baby. I wish I could wave a wand and make it mine.” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve said those same words to my daughter over the years. Every time she’s sick, or hurt, or sad, I want it to be me instead.
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Ugh, Crossroads…I thought I was prepared for this novella, but I was wrong. I usually read books without seeing reviews or even reading the synopsis, but that’s not always possible. I knew going in that Crossroads was a story about a mother whose child had died. Stephen King’s Pet Sematary and Blanky by Kealan Patrick Burke are two of my favorite horror stories, so I wasn’t concerned about the subject matter. I think grief horror is one of the most effective horror sub genres because death is something any of us could face at anytime. Dying is a scary thought for many, but losing a loved one is often much more terrifying.
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I didn’t realize the child in Crossroads was 20 years old when they died, the same age my daughter is right now. I didn’t realize Laurel Hightower could capture so many of the thoughts and feelings I’ve had as a mother and put them to paper so flawlessly. I was not prepared.
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This story won’t be devastating to every reader. Some people will appreciate the writing and enjoy Crossroads in the same way I’ve done with other books in the past. I think every reader has at least one book that affected them more because of their life circumstances when they read it and this is one of mine. I have not experienced the trauma of losing my child to death, but Crossroads made me think of that devastating scenario in a way I never have before.
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I identified with Chris, maybe more than I’ve connected with any other fictional character. I felt her pain, her frustration, and her resolve as my own. The character development was impressive, especially for a novella, and I have a particular soft spot for Dan. I thought the supernatural elements were well-executed and the ending was heartbreakingly perfect.
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Parenting is about sacrifice. Crossroads takes every parent’s nightmare and explores how the basic parental instinct to sacrifice anything for your child could be used, twisted and turned into something darker than I’ve ever imagined, yet it felt all too realistic. I was not prepared, but I loved it…even as it broke me💔
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TW: Death of a grown child, suicide.

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