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dev921's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
throwback682's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As someone said on Reddit, “I think that it’s an entertaining ghost story that is better as a deconstruction of abusive relationships.” and I couldn’t put it better myself. If you’re not reading this book as allegory then you’re fucking up. Part of me thinks the comparisons were laid on a bit thick, but given the amount of people who didn’t seem to read it this way, maybe not. I also thought it was very funny, especially the early chapters, but again many folks don’t seem to see the humor.
Yes I guessed a twist way ahead of time but it was also sort of not the point - a slight red herring for a bigger twist.
In short: it was a funny, spooky book, that dealt with very heavy and potentially triggering subject matter in a novel way.
I think everything people complained about in other reviews (the annoying, infuriating daughter; the repetitiveness) all served a purpose. I think it worked really well.
I just wish it hadn’t relied on ableist stereotypes/stigmas against mentally ill folks, is truly my only real complaint.
Read with caution if you’ve been a victim of intimate partner violence.
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse and Confinement
Minor: Forced institutionalization
Tons of body horror and blood throughout, including involving children. The entire book is an allegory for an abusive relationship involving alcoholism. Mentally ill people are stigmatized as violent.linora's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm debated between giving it 4.75 and 5 stars, and decided to upgrade it to 5 stars because of a few scenes that were written with such care and understanding while still maintaining their humor. I do think the metaphor weakened towards the end as the plot transitioned into more traditional horror, but I loved it anyway
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
shantuck13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Suicide, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
izypup's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
mamawantsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
samburkhouse's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Mental illness, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Confinement, Self harm, and Cannibalism
killmoore_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
... and for me, this one fell a bit flat.
Despite being full of gore, this read like a PG13 horror movie - perhaps its the narration style, but it was severly lacking in the fear and anxiety I always seek out in a good haunted house novel. That is what caused this to be a 4 star read for me.
I still very much enjoyed it. The story is fun, the characters are perfectly atrocious, and I truly loved both of the plot twists. It was well written, and the ending was a trip. I would LOVE to see a movie made out of this honestly, it would translate beautifully, and will definitely pick up more books by this author.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
sarah984's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Confinement, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Cannibalism
Insect/bug content