Reviews

Appetite for Innocence by Lucinda Berry

mwhello's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

4.25

klmreads's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.25

bunny0523's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

exquisite_tragedy's review against another edition

3.0

I’ve been sleeping on Lucinda Berry. This was dark, twisted, and compulsively readable.

Story: 3/5
Audiobook: 5/5 (narrated by Taylor Meskimen & Em Eldridge)
Length 8h59min

lexyalexys's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense

4.0

yvonnemcd's review against another edition

3.0

I was excited to finally get to read a Lucinda Berry book and choose this one based on the high stars. I expected a page turner, but it was just OK.

It was very short, and I just felt that all topics were just slightly addressed but in no real detail.

emschields's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Besides reading her novella One of Our Own, this was my first full length novel by Lucinda and it most certainly won’t be my last! According to the internet, Dr. Berry herself considers this her darkest book she has ever written. 

I read this via audio, and the switch between the POVs of two different girls along with the dual timeline and short chapters kept me intrigued and wanting to see what was going to be revealed next. The concept and plot line makes me absolutely sick to my stomach and my heart just shattered for what these girls went through at the hands of a monster. This story handles trauma and mental health in a very realistic and relatable way.

I enjoyed Ella’s narration and the raw emotion in her voice, but Sarah’s narration really pulled me out of the story (she sounded a lot like a younger version of Siri reading straight from the page). The ending was anti-climatic and I was hoping for more of a heart-racing thrill ride. 

All in all, enjoyable read! Onto the next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Death, Abortion, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Alcoholism

brittanykussman's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

du3aam7md's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

darkpika12's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I felt for the girls who survived. I felt bad for Sarah. Knowing what her father and John did to her. And I feel bad for Ella. But she was strong.