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merylas'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? Yes
4.5
This is not a love story. This is not a love triangle, will they won’t they. This is a story about domestic abuse.
This is a story about being on the outside and adamantly thinking you’d do something but then reality makes you realize how hard and confusing that really is. Abusers don’t always start as abusers and people you wouldn’t expect can be abusers.
That said, this is a very powerful and well written story. I laughed, I cried, I loved, and I hated.
Things I didn’t love:
- Atlas asking how old Lily was (15 when he was 18), and waiting until she was 16 to have sex. This is never brought up in a sketchy way as Colleen wants you to love Atlas unconditionally, but him coming back on her birthday felt less romantic than she intended.
- I’ve read reviews that said Ryle’s abuse of the chair was foreshadowing of his abuse but that didn’t read to me. That read to me as Ryle letting off anger while alone (or at least he thought he was) at an inanimate object; he purposely chose to release pent up emotion in an environment that would not harm any living creatures. If this was intended as foreshadowing, it was not achieved.
- Atlas and Lily end up together in the epilogue. I think it was unnecessary. They had a bond formed from understanding and abuse; there is definite love there but just learning that they each are safe and successful was enough and could have led to an actual adult friendship.
- Not enough Devin. Loved him, and he could have been someone she leaned on more instead of Atlas (Colleen sort of explained it away but I didn’t really buy it… clearly only having Atlas was meant to show how in love she still is with him)
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Child death
Minor: Infertility
veritas19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Infertility
crystal689's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Child death, and Blood
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Infertility, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
novazan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Infertility and Child death
roachquesadilla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Child death, Rape, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Colleen Hoover needs to be put in a psychward:)nmb005's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Rape, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
sabrinas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gaslighting and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide, Infertility, and Pregnancy
mangofraiche's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Medical content, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Mental illness
jordan_noel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Cursing
Minor: Medical content and Infertility
sam_sem's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
When it comes to the writing style, i do not see any specific style that would make me want to go back and reread bits of the text over and over again, but it delivers what it needs to deliver.
Now for the more specific parts, which will include:
<spoilers>
- The fact that we get to learn about her teenage years through her diary entries and always little by little, was a really smart way to keep the reader hooked.
- I hate that everything comes so casually and easily when it comes to money. It always seems like a real shame and easy way out of every situation. Either the characters are loaded with money to begin with or they have an ultra successful business in the most basic or most difficult fields.
- Why was there a love triangle? Why must there always be a love triangle? It would have been a strong enough story if she ended up making the decision she did at the end without running back to a past love… I think for Atlas it would have also be a more satisfying ending to find someone else that loves him without the baggage of trauma bonding.
- The decision she makes in order to save the relationship, I find really important and impressive. But I do think it was tainted by the events in the epilogue.
All in all a solid and emotional read.
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship