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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Toffee is a mix of fiction and almost poetry.
No, I'm not usually enjoying poetry, so I was quite happy to find I really enjoyed the style in this story.
We switch between Allison's now, having run away from home and finding a hiding place with Marla, and her past.
Said past really wasn't a nice and happy childhood, there's a god reason why she ran away. Plenty of reasons really. So don't read this if you want to avoid domestic violence.
I really *adored* the budding friendship between a young woman finding her own way and an old woman lost in her past. Dementia is such a horrible illness, and I loved how well it was handled in this book.
The end struck a perfect balance between open and thereby realistic outcome. There's no happy ever after, but there's hope for a better future.
A book that really made me think and ponder for a good long while after finishing.
No, I'm not usually enjoying poetry, so I was quite happy to find I really enjoyed the style in this story.
We switch between Allison's now, having run away from home and finding a hiding place with Marla, and her past.
Said past really wasn't a nice and happy childhood, there's a god reason why she ran away. Plenty of reasons really. So don't read this if you want to avoid domestic violence.
I really *adored* the budding friendship between a young woman finding her own way and an old woman lost in her past. Dementia is such a horrible illness, and I loved how well it was handled in this book.
The end struck a perfect balance between open and thereby realistic outcome. There's no happy ever after, but there's hope for a better future.
A book that really made me think and ponder for a good long while after finishing.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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:
No
Another stunning read. It didn't make me cry as One did, but it still took me on an awesome emotional roller coaster of a ride.
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book felt very much like an introduction to domestic violence - which is apt as that is absolutely what it is, a book for younger audiences exploring abuse in a reader-friendly yet still grittily honest way.
I did enjoy it, and there was a lot of beauty and depth in the prose even if it felt very clearly for readers younger or at least less versed in harrowing tales like this. My only real criticism would be the chapter style, specifically the way that each one starts with a gimmicky title. It felt a little too much like the 2010 Rupi Kaur era of poetry to take seriously, and it was especially irritating via audiobook without the ability to skip or skim read.
Overall though, this was a good book for its audience - and I am absolutely ok with recognising that I may not be part of that anymore and so my review isn’t the most important to consider.
I did enjoy it, and there was a lot of beauty and depth in the prose even if it felt very clearly for readers younger or at least less versed in harrowing tales like this. My only real criticism would be the chapter style, specifically the way that each one starts with a gimmicky title. It felt a little too much like the 2010 Rupi Kaur era of poetry to take seriously, and it was especially irritating via audiobook without the ability to skip or skim read.
Overall though, this was a good book for its audience - and I am absolutely ok with recognising that I may not be part of that anymore and so my review isn’t the most important to consider.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Strong plot and formatting, but it could have been... longer? With a climax to speak of?
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated