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_pia's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I hope everyone has a Celest, Sadie and Tom in their lifes!
I really really liked this book. Could have been a tiny bit shorter but the pacing and everything was still great.
I really really liked this book. Could have been a tiny bit shorter but the pacing and everything was still great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
kell_xavi's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.5
This is a book full of acceptance and empathy for people dealing with trauma, neglect, abuse, and mental disorders. It follows Meredith, a kind-hearted, reserved woman who suffers from panic attacks and severe depressive episodes when she attempts to leave her house. She has been home for over three years, with a careful routine, an online job, an orange cat, and many indoor hobbies to keep her company. In this novel, Meredith tries to grow human connections, to cope with her personal history—told through flashback memories every few chapters—and to go outside.
The writing reminded me Nina LaCour, with its gentle movement through memory and its aftermath. Though Watch Over Me and We Are Okay, the most similar novels to this one, are both centred around characters 20+ years younger than Alexander’s protagonist, the voices had commonalities: a sense of small wonders, isolation, low self-esteem and a lot of self-blame, kindness and brokenness and pride in small achievements. Part of this is how the titular character here is treated, but the youthful is also a little odd, and I sometimes forgot she had 40 years of life within her.
A couple parts come together too easily, and others are belaboured, which lessens my overall rating. Fiona is a tangled character with a complex relationship to her sister, so it’s inevitably messy , but I think the depiction could’ve been stronger. And I don’t think either trendy pop version of the cover fits the book well! I did enjoy Meredith and her support network though. I liked the jigsaw puzzles and baking, the lack of judgment on age or any sort of expected landmark; I feel that depression and its most difficult effects are represented well in these pages.
The writing reminded me Nina LaCour, with its gentle movement through memory and its aftermath. Though Watch Over Me and We Are Okay, the most similar novels to this one, are both centred around characters 20+ years younger than Alexander’s protagonist, the voices had commonalities: a sense of small wonders, isolation, low self-esteem and a lot of self-blame, kindness and brokenness and pride in small achievements. Part of this is how the titular character here is treated, but the youthful is also a little odd, and I sometimes forgot she had 40 years of life within her.
A couple parts come together too easily, and others are belaboured, which lessens my overall rating. Fiona is a tangled character with a complex relationship to her sister, so it’s inevitably messy , but I think the depiction could’ve been stronger. And I don’t think either trendy pop version of the cover fits the book well! I did enjoy Meredith and her support network though. I liked the jigsaw puzzles and baking, the lack of judgment on age or any sort of expected landmark; I feel that depression and its most difficult effects are represented well in these pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fatphobia
trude_am's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
aligra77's review against another edition
4.0
This had me gripped from the off. Claire Alexander does a wonderful job of drawing us into the life of Meredith an agoraphobic who hasn’t left the house in 3 years. This is a character driven book about a young woman who is trying to live with and overcome deep seated issues from her past. I really became invested in the lovable Meredith and was rooting for her to overcome her past and break free. A great debut!
pollyb23's review against another edition
4.0
This book is heavy but ultimately hopeful. Every trigger warning I can give exists here! Sexual assault, pregnancy loss, abusive mother, self harm, suicide…to name a few. I was rooting for Meredith the whole time.
princessbilbo's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
4.0
What a powerful book. It's not gonna be for everyone for sure. But I felt seen and understood by this book.
roseapickles's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence