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puffmattie's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
k_seidl's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so … great book. BUT I want more! It felt like it was left open for another book but there’s no second book…
emilynelson's review against another edition
3.0
This book was chillingly terrifying. How scary to be afraid of your own child and to have your child be that meticulously violent at such a young age? This was a whole different type of thriller for me! This was a good thrill but I did feel like the author gave so many details about things that didn’t matter much so I found myself skimming some pages.
I also didn’t love how she had the child in the story day such sexually mature things. I realize it was part of explaining what was going on but it just felt wrong?
I also didn’t love how she had the child in the story day such sexually mature things. I realize it was part of explaining what was going on but it just felt wrong?
breesbookmark's review against another edition
4.0
Somewhere between a 4 and a 4.5 star, honestly.
As someone who works extensively with children and has seen all sorts of behavioral issues, but also as someone who struggles with the whole "would I even be a good mother?" question, this book had me on edge the entire time. Throughout the entire book, we see the POVS of two characters: Suzette, the mother, and Hanna, the daughter. Suzette struggles with chronic illness, had a rough relationship with her own mother, and does not cope well with her daughter's behavioral issues. Hanna is a seven-year-old with seemingly no empathy, delusions, and—most startlingly—a desire to hurt her mother.
Throughout the story, I grappled with the question of who the antagonist of the story really is. Is it Hanna, the devious child who tries to physically harm her mother? Is it Suzette, who, despite being overwhelmed and struggling with her daughter's behaviors, seems quick to demonize her child for her tantrums and outbursts? Should parents be demonized for not having the resources or emotional capacity to handle such troubling behavior? How realistic is the question "Don't have kids if you're not prepared to handle any problem that comes up"? And how do we prevent any further mental/emotional harm from coming to children with already-existing mental health struggles when it's becoming a danger to have them at home?
By the end of the book it's clear that there is no good answer, but it's definitely a book that makes you think.
As someone who works extensively with children and has seen all sorts of behavioral issues, but also as someone who struggles with the whole "would I even be a good mother?" question, this book had me on edge the entire time. Throughout the entire book, we see the POVS of two characters: Suzette, the mother, and Hanna, the daughter. Suzette struggles with chronic illness, had a rough relationship with her own mother, and does not cope well with her daughter's behavioral issues. Hanna is a seven-year-old with seemingly no empathy, delusions, and—most startlingly—a desire to hurt her mother.
Throughout the story, I grappled with the question of who the antagonist of the story really is. Is it Hanna, the devious child who tries to physically harm her mother? Is it Suzette, who, despite being overwhelmed and struggling with her daughter's behaviors, seems quick to demonize her child for her tantrums and outbursts? Should parents be demonized for not having the resources or emotional capacity to handle such troubling behavior? How realistic is the question "Don't have kids if you're not prepared to handle any problem that comes up"? And how do we prevent any further mental/emotional harm from coming to children with already-existing mental health struggles when it's becoming a danger to have them at home?
By the end of the book it's clear that there is no good answer, but it's definitely a book that makes you think.
rashawna_93's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katie_holder's review against another edition
3.0
Creepy, weird but mostly sad. So sad. A family full of mental illness.
Not my favorite but not the worst.
Not my favorite but not the worst.
mousemilk's review against another edition
4.0
This book was recommended to me by my mom for a couple of months, so I finally caved and gave it a read! Boy, am I glad I did!
I can understand why most reviews I've read about this novel are mixed, but regardless of what you think of the characters, it was such a greatly written book! Especially for her first novel. I felt a lot of emotion towards both of the main characters in the book.
There were a few moments where I did have to close the book and come back to it. Mainly to the rage, I felt towards the mother. I felt like both of what Hanna and Suzette were feeling and how they were wrote was stunning. My only downfall of the novel was how Alex, her husband, and Hanna's father was so clueless to what everything was happening. Like guys come on if your wife is saying like 'Our daughter is thinking she's a witch and the devil is fucking her.'
But besides that, I would absolutely recommend this novel to a friend!
I can understand why most reviews I've read about this novel are mixed, but regardless of what you think of the characters, it was such a greatly written book! Especially for her first novel. I felt a lot of emotion towards both of the main characters in the book.
There were a few moments where I did have to close the book and come back to it. Mainly to the rage, I felt towards the mother. I felt like both of what Hanna and Suzette were feeling and how they were wrote was stunning. My only downfall of the novel was how Alex, her husband, and Hanna's father was so clueless to what everything was happening. Like guys come on if your wife is saying like 'Our daughter is thinking she's a witch and the devil is fucking her.'
But besides that, I would absolutely recommend this novel to a friend!
talaskali's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
barbi72's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75