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lindsaybethlyons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child death, Cancer, and Abortion
writingbugtop's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Death of parent, Rape, and Racism
brynpemery'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? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Abortion, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Rape, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual assault
aposthuma'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
3.25
Graphic: Abortion, Violence, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Body shaming, Cancer, Racial slurs, Child death, Grief, Death of parent, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
repunzee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Police brutality, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent
courtcourtcourt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent and Racism
csl4240's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Grief and Racism
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
haley49's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Classism, Murder, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Abortion, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Sexism, Cancer, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Infertility
Minor: Slavery, Xenophobia, Violence, Addiction, and Stalking
everamplify's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Abortion, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Racism, Misogyny, Death of parent, Child death, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Racial slurs
mal_reads_books's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
The writing was messy, disjointed, and oddly paced. The two storylines didn't mesh well, and the transitions between Kitty's and Elise's chapters were jarring. There was a lot more telling and info-dumping than showing. There were too many characters and subplots that didn't add value to the plot, especially in the present day. The first two chapters were the worst. I had to reread parts and was ready to quit the book early, but I stuck with it because this was the book club's pick of the month. Kitty's parts were more readable and interesting than Elise's, but still had the aforementioned issues.
I would have enjoyed this more had Elise's parts been eliminated. I understand why the author included the modern timeline, but Kitty's story would've been fine alone, with maybe an epilogue with the St. Johns. I also would have liked to see more of Kitty's acting career and later life and was disappointed her chapters ended in the 1960s. The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic, leaving a lot of loose ends.
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Blood