Scan barcode
oldenglishrose's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
readwithsophsx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Car accident, and Child death
ever_unread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jason_pym's review against another edition
1.0
If she'd stuck to the Mark / Jess / James relationship I think it would have been great, and I like how she writes.
But... I was enjoying this until the Italian mother came along, that was when it stopped feeling like a serious book. Then the kid falling in the river read like it was bolted on just to show another side of Mark's personality. But the bit that really got me was Mark (probably) murdering his own child, something that was covered in three paragraphs and seemed to have no repercussions at all. Very tacky, and really no need. I think she's a strong enough writer as is, no need for the gonzo stuff.
But... I was enjoying this until the Italian mother came along, that was when it stopped feeling like a serious book. Then the kid falling in the river read like it was bolted on just to show another side of Mark's personality. But the bit that really got me was Mark (probably) murdering his own child, something that was covered in three paragraphs and seemed to have no repercussions at all. Very tacky, and really no need. I think she's a strong enough writer as is, no need for the gonzo stuff.
karentipsy's review against another edition
3.0
Alexa, file this under 'books that don't really have a point'.
This is one of those ones where you are waiting for something to happen, then it ends. So frustrating. I really liked the writing style and the characters and feel there could have been a lot more to say, except the main character was two dimensional and a bit boring. Shame really.
This is one of those ones where you are waiting for something to happen, then it ends. So frustrating. I really liked the writing style and the characters and feel there could have been a lot more to say, except the main character was two dimensional and a bit boring. Shame really.
karlijntje_mandarijntje's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Note to self- do NOT get a rich, unstable oxford sugar daddy it WILL NOT end well
‘Theres no disgrace in falling, everyone falls.’
‘He had never been forced to learn how to mend.’
‘It is so hard sometimes to tell the difference between the bindings that trap, and those which secure.’
’We don’t have to clothe ourselves in imaginary woe, each of us if we live long enough will have material for our own suit of sorrow.’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Gaslighting, Grief, Abandonment, Car accident, Child death, Classism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
kingarooski's review against another edition
2.0
This was not my favourite Naomi Alderman book. It was, in places, a bit slow but did remind me of A Secret History.
svmreads's review against another edition
As soon as I saw how the gay relationship was written in this book I said NOPE.