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terriblelynne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.75
Wow, what a book! I don't normally make this kind of comparison but honestly? Misery meets Psycho but also totally original. This is a rough read if you've lived through an overbearing, emotionally abusive relationship with a parent. But it deals with the dynamic with a vivid emotional honesty juxtaposed against a disturbingly heightened set of circumstances. Harrowing, difficult, tense and quick. Highly recommended.
(review copy provided by publisher)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Car accident
dans_bookscape's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Miller and her estranged mother, Sylvie, have always had a tense relationship. But after Miller’s father dies, she agrees to a girls’ vacation away from the city to reconnect with the only family she has left.
Unfortunately, Sylvie’s trapped in the past. She’s recreated Miller’s childhood home down to the smallest details – she’s even found adult versions of Miller’s childhood outfits – and is desperate to revive the ‘happy family’ they once had, at any cost.”
I don’t think I recall enjoying a book and being infuriated with it as much as I have with this brilliant novella. Not infuriated with it in a bad way, it actually helped with the enjoyment!
As the novella is so short and the time period of the story is over a couple of days the pace of it is at breakneck speed, which plays into the feeling of Miller being trapped in this bizarre recreation of her childhood, in the middle of nowhere.
Sylvie is awful, no better way to describe her. She claims to want to get a relationship with her daughter back but spends the whole time gaslighting her...I could feel every nasty comment, shifting of blame and emotional blackmail from my own past which heightened the fury I felt with every interaction.
The feeling of just wanting to shout into the pages for Miller to run and get away, was felt almost immediately, there was just the sense that this wasn’t going to end well.
Excellent book from @caitlinmarceau ... if you haven’t read it yet you really should!
Unfortunately, Sylvie’s trapped in the past. She’s recreated Miller’s childhood home down to the smallest details – she’s even found adult versions of Miller’s childhood outfits – and is desperate to revive the ‘happy family’ they once had, at any cost.”
I don’t think I recall enjoying a book and being infuriated with it as much as I have with this brilliant novella. Not infuriated with it in a bad way, it actually helped with the enjoyment!
As the novella is so short and the time period of the story is over a couple of days the pace of it is at breakneck speed, which plays into the feeling of Miller being trapped in this bizarre recreation of her childhood, in the middle of nowhere.
Sylvie is awful, no better way to describe her. She claims to want to get a relationship with her daughter back but spends the whole time gaslighting her...I could feel every nasty comment, shifting of blame and emotional blackmail from my own past which heightened the fury I felt with every interaction.
The feeling of just wanting to shout into the pages for Miller to run and get away, was felt almost immediately, there was just the sense that this wasn’t going to end well.
Excellent book from @caitlinmarceau ... if you haven’t read it yet you really should!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
drakaina16'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Thank you to DarkLit Press for sending this along.
Caitlin Marceau has written a genuinely creepy, horrifying novella. It's short, but it packs a hell of a punch. Fair warning, though: survivors of narcissistic abuse may find it pretty triggering. I really enjoyed this one and will absolutely be on the lookout for future titles by her.
Caitlin Marceau has written a genuinely creepy, horrifying novella. It's short, but it packs a hell of a punch. Fair warning, though: survivors of narcissistic abuse may find it pretty triggering. I really enjoyed this one and will absolutely be on the lookout for future titles by her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
danidamico's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.0
Me gustó, es de esas lecturas fáciles que terminás en una tarde. Algunos aspectos me resultaron bastante predecibles, hay una cosa específica que vi venir desde el minuto uno. Más allá de los clichés, Marceau logra mantener un buen ritmo y generar tensión durante las 90 páginas. El personaje de Sylvie es realmente horroroso, la manipulación que ejerce sobre su hija me puso la piel de gallina, sobre todo porque ese tipo de violencia existe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
gxsobes's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Car accident, Domestic abuse, Gore, Dementia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
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