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nicole_catherin's review against another edition
4.0
I was on the fence about reading this book because of the DV aspect of it. The whole time I was reading this book I was transported back into my own situation with my own child and needing to make the same choices that Lily did. In the end I am glad Lily made the right choice. I just wish she didn't have to experience multiple situations before it finally clicked for her. The I'm sorry's, it will never happen agains, etc. were never going to stop....they never do.
If I am being honest I am afraid to see the movie (which was the whole purpose of reading this book in the first place).
Lastly Atlas is (chef's kiss - punt intended) the person Lily needed in the end. While he provided her a safe space to figure her crap out, I like to also think that in that short amount of time he was able to show Lily her worth in his own way.
I'd read this again eventually, but I need a ton of time to decompress from it.
If I am being honest I am afraid to see the movie (which was the whole purpose of reading this book in the first place).
Lastly Atlas is (chef's kiss - punt intended) the person Lily needed in the end. While he provided her a safe space to figure her crap out, I like to also think that in that short amount of time he was able to show Lily her worth in his own way.
I'd read this again eventually, but I need a ton of time to decompress from it.
heyyyitsjp's review against another edition
2.0
This book tackles some rough and complicated themes, and I feel like they’re tackled well…and in a raw, messy and sadly realistic way that tries to convey the author’s lived experience and that of many others. However, I’m just not a fan of Colleen Hoover’s writing style.
kate_albers's review against another edition
2.0
I found myself saying, “This book is so stupid” over and over. Mostly because of the dialogue. While I appreciate what it was trying to do, it was not for me.
maemalic84's review against another edition
3.0
Trigger warning for every single person who grew up in a household with abuse or left an abusive relationship or is wanting to leave one
kckiernan1's review against another edition
3.0
I thought the book was fine. I read it in like 36 hours and enjoyed it well enough. Mainly only read it before the movie, but I probably won’t read the sequel. I didn’t know Hoover herself had a father who abused her mother - makes some of the emotional manipulation we readers feel kind of more intense/valid sort of.
crockliffe's review against another edition
5.0
I am sobbing. This book wrecked me. Never in a million years did I go into this book thinking it was going to be what it was - for some reason I didn’t read much on it except for the summary on the back of the book, which is not in my usual pattern. (“Cool, sounds like a good read!”)
As someone who has experienced her own abusive and unhealthy relationships in the past, someone who worked in a domestic violence shelter and saw what the worst of humanity can do, someone who’s witnessed friends, coworkers and family members grapple with the feeling of being trapped and confused in a relationship with someone they loved but were afraid of, this book tore my heart open.
If you’ve been blessed enough to never be close to issues of domestic violence and intimate partner violence I recommend you take a deep breath and read one chapter at a time. Sit with what Colleen Hoover offers you as the story progresses. What are the red flags? What, if you’re in Lily’s shoes, feels okay or not? What would you do? What misconceptions, stigma and judgments do you have of survivors?
“She’ll pity me. She’ll wonder why I never left him. She’ll wonder how I let myself get to this point. People spend so much time wondering why the women don’t leave. Where are all the people who wonder why the men are even abusive?”
“Sometimes the reason people go back is simply because they’re in love. Preventing your heart from forgiving someone you love is actually a hell of a lot harder than simply forgiving them.”
“Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.”
As someone who has experienced her own abusive and unhealthy relationships in the past, someone who worked in a domestic violence shelter and saw what the worst of humanity can do, someone who’s witnessed friends, coworkers and family members grapple with the feeling of being trapped and confused in a relationship with someone they loved but were afraid of, this book tore my heart open.
If you’ve been blessed enough to never be close to issues of domestic violence and intimate partner violence I recommend you take a deep breath and read one chapter at a time. Sit with what Colleen Hoover offers you as the story progresses. What are the red flags? What, if you’re in Lily’s shoes, feels okay or not? What would you do? What misconceptions, stigma and judgments do you have of survivors?
“She’ll pity me. She’ll wonder why I never left him. She’ll wonder how I let myself get to this point. People spend so much time wondering why the women don’t leave. Where are all the people who wonder why the men are even abusive?”
“Sometimes the reason people go back is simply because they’re in love. Preventing your heart from forgiving someone you love is actually a hell of a lot harder than simply forgiving them.”
“Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.”
gabi_t28's review against another edition
Honestly didn't hate this when I read it. I did not like the movie though!
curiouscat_phx's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
textualpleasures's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0