Scan barcode
thejourneys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcoholism, Rape, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infidelity, Abortion, and Transphobia
vanessa1982's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Addiction, Violence, Alcohol, and Torture
am__flynn'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
2.5
1. The writing style used for Lola's character. Was it meant to be diary style? Because if so, it didn't work. Inner narration? Didn't work. It made my eyes burn.
2. The transphobia, Jesus Christ the transphobia. Although none of the characters are actually transgender, the wilful use of a shortened term was unnecessary and gross. Yes. It was written 14 years ago, but STILL.
3. The casual racism
4. The fact that some of these characters felt like caricatures at times. The way they justified bad behaviour - either their own, or others - often lacked credibility. Lola, in particular - she might have been head over heels about Paddy but no grown adult thinks like she did.
Overall the book got compelling enough towards the end but it was a bit of a slog.
Graphic: Violence and Rape
Moderate: Transphobia
emilayday's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Not that it's all a downer! There's some funny parts as well as Irish humor (US reader) and there's levity and even though it's a lot of pages, it's a face paced read.
I will say, it's also a different landscape now than it was then when the book first came out, as such you really have to be able to take a lot of insensitivity with a grain of salt to get at the bigger picture. Definitely racism and trans/queer phobia but then maybe that's the point of that character because it was mostly through Lola's lens on those incidences hmm. Still though.
Graphic: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Rape, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Transphobia and Abortion
Minor: Islamophobia
ceirid's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
mahamsiddiqui's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Transphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Islamophobia