Reviews

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

caitlin16b's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

excommunicaited's review against another edition

4.5

Just read Educated before this and it really paralleled well with that book. So well that I occasionally would confuse the two.
An excellent book with a deeply unique voice.

noelle1121005's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

jimmyperk's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kaaris'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

« There are too many ennemies in life to be one to yourself. ». 
C’était si beau mais si violent. Tellement de résilience à travers toutes les personnages 🫂

linaboa's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Racial slurs, Rape, Animal death, Racism, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, and Sexual assault

salt_y's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Incest, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Drug use, Self harm, Abortion, and Sexual assault

mmitch10's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

I really struggled with deciding how to rate and review this book, especially after seeing so many rave reviews. There were elements that were powerful and heartbreaking  so I wanted to love it. Ultimately, I was left somewhat disappointed with the storyline and writing. How the family talked to each other, especially to Betty, felt so unrealistic and even how Betty spoke and acted was completely out of step with reality and her age. 

There was so much potential for strong character development but somehow everyone felt flat. Even the father was so promising and was a great opportunity for hope amid all the pain and trauma, but even he was one-dimensional.

Was he so lost in his own world he didn’t know what was happening in his family or did he know and instead of doing something just chose to talk to Betty? I know trauma and abuse makes people behave in ways that is hard for outsiders to understand, but this just didn’t sit right with me.

In the end it was just one trauma after another with little plot or hope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Self harm, Racism, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

librarychild's review against another edition

i might return to this at a later point but for right now it’s too heavy and too triggering for me 

illinibaby's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0