Scan barcode
catriona176's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can’t remember the last time I detested a character as much as I detested Ray Hanrahan, and I read a lot of books about serial killers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Bullying
Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Misogyny
raspberrythriller's review
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Cancer
juno_enb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
partly_stars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It's an alright book. It falls into the "middle class families being toxuc and horrible toe ach other" genre and condenses it into 2 days with some flashbacks.
Most of the chracters are just sketched out. A lot of is left vague. The narration focuses on the subjective emotions of the chracters which works for the story but leaves me with a lack of details to make them memorable. I finishedbthe book and I'm still not sure what Martyn'd and Leah's deal is for example (and why tf was Martyn following Patrick at the end).
The nove tries to sketc out a troubled family with the mentally abusive narcissistic slef absorbed father/husband Ray in the centre. What it did well is making me genuinely feeling angry and frustrated with him (and also Martyn). Shoeing how he is a shadow looming over all of their lives and how years of sremingly small comments add up to messed up life. Like a death by a thousand papercuts.
Most characters are hard to like and I wish their inner lives were mote expanded upon, especially since the novel changes perspectives multiple times.
All in all, it will probably be a pretty forgetabble book to my disappointment. I hoped for a more in depth portrayal of a broken family but it was mostly one note.
Most of the chracters are just sketched out. A lot of is left vague. The narration focuses on the subjective emotions of the chracters which works for the story but leaves me with a lack of details to make them memorable. I finishedbthe book and I'm still not sure what Martyn'd and Leah's deal is for example (and why tf was Martyn following Patrick at the end).
The nove tries to sketc out a troubled family with the mentally abusive narcissistic slef absorbed father/husband Ray in the centre. What it did well is making me genuinely feeling angry and frustrated with him (and also Martyn). Shoeing how he is a shadow looming over all of their lives and how years of sremingly small comments add up to messed up life. Like a death by a thousand papercuts.
Most characters are hard to like and I wish their inner lives were mote expanded upon, especially since the novel changes perspectives multiple times.
All in all, it will probably be a pretty forgetabble book to my disappointment. I hoped for a more in depth portrayal of a broken family but it was mostly one note.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Moderate: Blood and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder and Self harm
essay23's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
hopeadinfinitum's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I just don’t have words for this book right now. Exquisitely written but oh my god the tensest book I’ve ever read. Also a lot of the reviews on the cover say it’s funny? No. Heart wrenching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Cancer, and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Rape
nerdyprettythings's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is well-written, but it’s an absolutely infuriating read. Lucia is a well-regarded artist, but the biggest thing in her life, before her art, her well-being, or her children, is being a wife to her (unsuccessful) artist husband. She develops cancer, discovers her husband has been cheating, begins an affair with a female MP, but none of this leads anywhere. Lucia will always be berated by her husband (Ray) and turn down opportunities because of his professional jealousy.
All of Lucia’s children are also emotionally abused by their father in some way, and they carry this submissive dynamic into relationships with their partners.
The book sort of took a comical route, every character is so over the top. But I couldn’t lean into the hilarity of the situation (missing that your wife is cheating because you think she’s conspiring to ruin your non-existent career) because Ray is just so abusive constantly.
All of Lucia’s children are also emotionally abused by their father in some way, and they carry this submissive dynamic into relationships with their partners.
The book sort of took a comical route, every character is so over the top. But I couldn’t lean into the hilarity of the situation (missing that your wife is cheating because you think she’s conspiring to ruin your non-existent career) because Ray is just so abusive constantly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Cancer
extrey_extrey's review
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
annabella's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ray was really really infuriating which I guess means it was written well but it did get a bit much. Especially as an audiobook. Was cool to hear about art exhibition world stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
beriboo's review
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a story about a dysfunctional family, Mum, Dad and three adult children (plus a boyfriend) over the course of one weekend. Ray (dad) is an artist and a horrible narcissist who is putting on an exhibition for the first time in years. His wife, Lucia, is timid and has been emotionally abused by Ray for decades, she is carrying some secrets with her though, hoping Ray won’t find out. Their eldest daughter Leah is obsessed with her father, the youngest Jess seems to hate everyone including her boyfriend Martin. And the brother Patrick is trying to recover from a nervous breakdown but is used by Ray and floats on the outskirts of the family.
This is a strange one. None of the characters are likeable, some you pity, others you will despise. Still, I could not put this book down, I wanted to see what happened between them. Would anyone get their just deserts? Would there be some resolution.?
Throughout the story are little hints of a secret or something to come that just keeps you hooked right to the end.
This is a strange one. None of the characters are likeable, some you pity, others you will despise. Still, I could not put this book down, I wanted to see what happened between them. Would anyone get their just deserts? Would there be some resolution.?
Throughout the story are little hints of a secret or something to come that just keeps you hooked right to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Cancer
Minor: Bullying, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Abortion, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy