Reviews with content warning for Incest - A Girl Returned

The writing/ Ann Goldstein’s translation was beautifully crafted. The story follows a girl as she’s returned to a family she never knew existed from the only family she’s ever known for some unknown reason.

She struggles with belonging and what it means to have/be a mother when both of hers have disappointed her. This follows this confused connection, while also showing points of hope in sisterhood.

There is an uncomfortable moment of incestuous SA that was sure to get worse, however, the girl hasn’t quite understood the impact of what was happening to her.

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onethousandoddfrogs's review

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emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

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itspeachie's review against another edition

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4.0

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vivacissimx's review

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

So Ferrante (when South Italian women write about girlhood my brain goes brrrrr) I liked the unnamed protag of it all because her name is 'l'arminuta' (the returned) indeed. That becomes her identity in ways that a name alone could not be, taking away the idea of a true mother/true name. She is the in-between

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strrygo's review

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

another vanity pick..idc..i love this cover ! whirlwind of emotions. can't fully understand why maybe it was that the chapters got longer and longer, so i felt like i was being allowed in more, somehow, the super distinct prose/voice that felt so much more personal? than i think i'm used to balancing simplicity and beauty, but i cared! so so much! almost like i was experiencing her anger and grief and joy(however brief) with her, so much so i couldn't put it down because i felt like my not reading to the end was holding her back from a resolution..parasocial reading..
book i would love to own and mark up bc some of these quotes r so completely stuck to my brain!

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kirstym25's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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bookpals's review

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Following the return to her biological family, a young girl finds herself in a completely different environment than her privileged and quiet life of her childhood. Navigating complicated familial and class relationships, the narrator begins this new life. Out of this confusion arises a close relationship with her younger sister, Adriana, who brings her comfort and something new. At the same time, the confusion around her return is the main impetus for plot in this story, what happened to her mother and how does she even begin to create a relationship with "the mother" (her biological mother)?

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Immediately, the narrator pulls you in with her trauma and confusion of her return to her being dumped into already complicated family dynamics. While I think the story draws you in with the nuances of motherhood and the mother-daughter relationship, the true heart of this story is Adriana and the love that the two sisters have for each other. It is through her sister, that the narrator is able to start healing. I loved their bond and think it was make this book so remarkable. Di Pietrantonia does a great job of capturing the narrator's inner feelings and thoughts, her navigation of an impossible situation. A Girl Returned captures girlhood in such a painful and realistic way as we come into our relationships with our mothers, sisters, and friends.

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