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I also love how it’s structured like a play, with characters quoting lines and chapters are called “Scene #” and sections called “Act #” and even the dialogue is structured like a script sometimes (for example it’ll be like Oliver: “___” Meredith: ”___”).
This book was beautifully heart wrenching and it’s so hard to review it without spoilers. If you love analyzing characters and lit fic with messy romance, gossip, and even murder in a gothic setting, this is for you (yes very specific). Absolutely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Violence, Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Drug abuse, Gore, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship
Graphic: Death, Murder
Minor: Eating disorder
The surprise cast plays were also such amazingly done and so vivid it felt like watching in a way.
Such a wild Shakespeare theatre focused mystery that I 100% would recommend.
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Murder
But I could not get into the book for the longest time. And I realized halfway through the third act it was because I hated the main character and did not care what happened to him.
That being said, I’m incredibly grateful I made it through because the last two acts of this book were pure and utter *chef’s kiss*. It has been a very long time since I read literature like that. This is the type of book that you finish and you have to sit and stare at a wall for three days to process.
Rio is magnificent at weaving Shakespeare into this work. I am somewhat devestated that I never read Shakespeare’s King Lear before reading this book, because there is no way I would read/watch it without thinking about this book and these characters. The last two acts of the book are devastatingly beautiful. Thanks!
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
amazing book tho!!
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
i found every character insufferable and was underwhelmed by the reveal of what happened with the murder.
i thought the author was a good writer, i just hated all of the themes, aesthetics, characters, and basically everything about this. i was expecting something much more sinister for it to be a thriller, possibly even an “and then there were none” where at least multiple people are murdered. i think they know how to write well, but i am clearly not the right audience for this story. it has so many good reviews, which made me sad bc i was so excited to read it and then it actively contributed to and further exacerbated my reading slump.
i would still try another book by this author since i like thrillers, but i will never read anything contemporary that has any mention of theater or shakespeare again.
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder
Moderate: Death, Blood
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder
Minor: Suicide, Blood, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide attempt