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mx_manda's review
3.0
Real rating: 2.5⭐︎
So.
Where do I even begin with this story?
I love Homebound, Hope's first published work. I've reread it already, even though it released 6 months ago. I love its subtlety, and I loved it's more reality-based take on humans and aliens in a dystopian/dying Earth scenario. So much about Homebound works.
A lot about Family Affair...doesn't for me. It might be that I'm so attached to her first work that I'm biased against this one, but I think had these same issues been prevalent in Homebound, I would have not loved it as much either. This is another example of loving an idea behind a story, but not liking the execution of said story.
I could handle the characters; I assumed this was a scenario where none of them were really meant to be likable and am fine with a cast of unlikable characters.
I could handle the plot twist and Coco's bizarre obsession with dead brother, Frank.
I could even handle the elements I will still tag as problematic, because based on the age and backgrounds of the characters, they're going to say, think, and do some icky things.
But this work was...too much. In a negative way. When talking at my partner about this book, I said it was like using $10 worth of glitter and sparkle when $2 was sufficient. Meaning...this work really needed editing—both technical for the dozens of typos (get some eagle-eyed readers to proof for you, please!) and someone to firmly say, "there's too many ideas in here; pick your favorite 3 and axe the rest." Too many plot devices/happenings and not enough story to justify them all.
Now onto the warnings.
TW/CW: attempted rape, attempted suicide, completed suicide, murder, abusive language towards women, violence towards women, child battery, roofies, alcoholism, attempted murder... lots. There's lots of them in here.
Problematic: Too many elements to track them all, but they include:
* Cheating
* Variations on ___tard.
* Misandric thoughts by a character/toxic masculinity (IE, there's a rather short male character in this story who was repeatedly compared to a child and thought of as very "unmanly." IE 2) There are a lot of abusive slurs hurled at CoCo in this book. [whore, slut, bitch, etc])
* phrases like "butthurt"-which may or may not have a homophobic bent, "lame"-ableist, and others. The whole cast is a big string of problematic language choices.
Honestly, there were so many that I lost track after a point. These are the ones that jumped to the forefront of my mind when writing.
So.
Where do I even begin with this story?
I love Homebound, Hope's first published work. I've reread it already, even though it released 6 months ago. I love its subtlety, and I loved it's more reality-based take on humans and aliens in a dystopian/dying Earth scenario. So much about Homebound works.
A lot about Family Affair...doesn't for me. It might be that I'm so attached to her first work that I'm biased against this one, but I think had these same issues been prevalent in Homebound, I would have not loved it as much either. This is another example of loving an idea behind a story, but not liking the execution of said story.
I could handle the characters; I assumed this was a scenario where none of them were really meant to be likable and am fine with a cast of unlikable characters.
I could handle the plot twist and Coco's bizarre obsession with dead brother, Frank.
Spoiler
And yes, if you persevere until the end, that will get resolved, though never explained. Would have been super awkward without that twist, though.I could even handle the elements I will still tag as problematic, because based on the age and backgrounds of the characters, they're going to say, think, and do some icky things.
But this work was...too much. In a negative way. When talking at my partner about this book, I said it was like using $10 worth of glitter and sparkle when $2 was sufficient. Meaning...this work really needed editing—both technical for the dozens of typos (get some eagle-eyed readers to proof for you, please!) and someone to firmly say, "there's too many ideas in here; pick your favorite 3 and axe the rest." Too many plot devices/happenings and not enough story to justify them all.
Now onto the warnings.
TW/CW: attempted rape, attempted suicide, completed suicide, murder, abusive language towards women, violence towards women, child battery, roofies, alcoholism, attempted murder... lots. There's lots of them in here.
Problematic: Too many elements to track them all, but they include:
* Cheating
* Variations on ___tard.
* Misandric thoughts by a character/toxic masculinity (IE, there's a rather short male character in this story who was repeatedly compared to a child and thought of as very "unmanly." IE 2) There are a lot of abusive slurs hurled at CoCo in this book. [whore, slut, bitch, etc])
* phrases like "butthurt"-which may or may not have a homophobic bent, "lame"-ableist, and others. The whole cast is a big string of problematic language choices.
Honestly, there were so many that I lost track after a point. These are the ones that jumped to the forefront of my mind when writing.
shanireads's review
3.0
2nd book I have read by Lydia.
I enjoyed it since I love mystery books with a side of romance.
The POV switches between the main female and male character, which I normally don't like reading but in this case it was nice to see the different POVs because it helped piece together more parts of the mystery.
The female MC was smart which I liked.
The romance was kind of in the middle of insta-love and slow-burn, the two were obviously attracted to each other on first meeting but it took a bit for them to actually get to the point of the first kiss.
I liked the personalities of the other side characters, they were very distinct and Lydia did a good job characterizing them and making me care/dislike them. Was a nice read, excited for her next book!
I enjoyed it since I love mystery books with a side of romance.
The POV switches between the main female and male character, which I normally don't like reading but in this case it was nice to see the different POVs because it helped piece together more parts of the mystery.
The female MC was smart which I liked.
The romance was kind of in the middle of insta-love and slow-burn, the two were obviously attracted to each other on first meeting but it took a bit for them to actually get to the point of the first kiss.
I liked the personalities of the other side characters, they were very distinct and Lydia did a good job characterizing them and making me care/dislike them. Was a nice read, excited for her next book!
amanda_p's review
3.0
Real rating: 2.5⭐︎
So.
Where do I even begin with this story?
I love Homebound, Hope's first published work. I've reread it already, even though it released 6 months ago. I love its subtlety, and I loved it's more reality-based take on humans and aliens in a dystopian/dying Earth scenario. So much about Homebound works.
A lot about Family Affair...doesn't for me. It might be that I'm so attached to her first work that I'm biased against this one, but I think had these same issues been prevalent in Homebound, I would have not loved it as much either. This is another example of loving an idea behind a story, but not liking the execution of said story.
I could handle the characters; I assumed this was a scenario where none of them were really meant to be likable and am fine with a cast of unlikable characters.
I could handle the plot twist and Coco's bizarre obsession with dead brother, Frank.And yes, if you persevere until the end, that will get resolved, though never explained. Would have been super awkward without that twist, though.
I could even handle the elements I will still tag as problematic, because based on the age and backgrounds of the characters, they're going to say, think, and do some icky things.
But this work was...too much. In a negative way. When talking at my partner about this book, I said it was like using $10 worth of glitter and sparkle when $2 was sufficient. Meaning...this work really needed editing—both technical for the dozens of typos (get some eagle-eyed readers to proof for you, please!) and someone to firmly say, "there's too many ideas in here; pick your favorite 3 and axe the rest." Too many plot devices/happenings and not enough story to justify them all.
Now onto the warnings.
TW/CW: attempted rape, attempted suicide, completed suicide, murder, abusive language towards women, violence towards women, child battery, roofies, alcoholism, attempted murder... lots. There's lots of them in here.
Problematic: Too many elements to track them all, but they include:
* Cheating
* Variations on ___tard.
* Misandric thoughts by a character/toxic masculinity (IE, there's a rather short male character in this story who was repeatedly compared to a child and thought of as very "unmanly." IE 2) There are a lot of abusive slurs hurled at CoCo in this book. [whore, slut, bitch, etc])
* phrases like "butthurt"-which may or may not have a homophobic bent, "lame"-ableist, and others. The whole cast is a big string of problematic language choices.
Honestly, there were so many that I lost track after a point. These are the ones that jumped to the forefront of my mind when writing.
So.
Where do I even begin with this story?
I love Homebound, Hope's first published work. I've reread it already, even though it released 6 months ago. I love its subtlety, and I loved it's more reality-based take on humans and aliens in a dystopian/dying Earth scenario. So much about Homebound works.
A lot about Family Affair...doesn't for me. It might be that I'm so attached to her first work that I'm biased against this one, but I think had these same issues been prevalent in Homebound, I would have not loved it as much either. This is another example of loving an idea behind a story, but not liking the execution of said story.
I could handle the characters; I assumed this was a scenario where none of them were really meant to be likable and am fine with a cast of unlikable characters.
I could handle the plot twist and Coco's bizarre obsession with dead brother, Frank.
I could even handle the elements I will still tag as problematic, because based on the age and backgrounds of the characters, they're going to say, think, and do some icky things.
But this work was...too much. In a negative way. When talking at my partner about this book, I said it was like using $10 worth of glitter and sparkle when $2 was sufficient. Meaning...this work really needed editing—both technical for the dozens of typos (get some eagle-eyed readers to proof for you, please!) and someone to firmly say, "there's too many ideas in here; pick your favorite 3 and axe the rest." Too many plot devices/happenings and not enough story to justify them all.
Now onto the warnings.
TW/CW: attempted rape, attempted suicide, completed suicide, murder, abusive language towards women, violence towards women, child battery, roofies, alcoholism, attempted murder... lots. There's lots of them in here.
Problematic: Too many elements to track them all, but they include:
* Cheating
* Variations on ___tard.
* Misandric thoughts by a character/toxic masculinity (IE, there's a rather short male character in this story who was repeatedly compared to a child and thought of as very "unmanly." IE 2) There are a lot of abusive slurs hurled at CoCo in this book. [whore, slut, bitch, etc])
* phrases like "butthurt"-which may or may not have a homophobic bent, "lame"-ableist, and others. The whole cast is a big string of problematic language choices.
Honestly, there were so many that I lost track after a point. These are the ones that jumped to the forefront of my mind when writing.
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