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evalynnfarkashasanbasri's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was my favorite book I have read all year, no contest. It was so beautiful, sad, and full. Of suspense, sibling love, honesty, rage, and a sense of searching for home.
Spoilers Below:
There were many parts where I could tell what might be coming, but it was written so well. I braced myself and read on, and a few moments left me reeling---Ruthie's questions about her "dreams," Charlie's death, Ben almost reuniting with her in a crowd, her miscarriage... Towards the end, I broke down and cried happy tears at seeing Ruthie reunited with what remained of her family. I was so worried the entire time I read that Joe would die before seeing his youngest sibling again, that the beginning of the story was only a hope and not reality. With a book so rife with sorrow, I was grateful for such a gentle ending. And I would like more books to read and handsell please, Amanda Peters. πππ
Also, can I just take a minute to say how gorgeous this cover is? From the first moment I saw it pre-release, I have been so drawn to this book. It did not disappoint.
There were many parts where I could tell what might be coming, but it was written so well. I braced myself and read on, and a few moments left me reeling---Ruthie's questions about her "dreams," Charlie's death, Ben almost reuniting with her in a crowd, her miscarriage... Towards the end, I broke down and cried happy tears at seeing Ruthie reunited with what remained of her family. I was so worried the entire time I read that Joe would die before seeing his youngest sibling again, that the beginning of the story was only a hope and not reality. With a book so rife with sorrow, I was grateful for such a gentle ending. And I would like more books to read and handsell please, Amanda Peters. πππ
Also, can I just take a minute to say how gorgeous this cover is? From the first moment I saw it pre-release, I have been so drawn to this book. It did not disappoint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
karlee_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was such a beautiful book. Do not go in thinking it's a mystery - the cause of Ruthie's disappearance is made clear very quickly. This is much more a character study on grief and guilt in the wake of a family tragedy and what that does to the people impacted. The winding timeline and dual narrators create a unique atmosphere of reflection as the story is woven and we are filled in from the time Ruthie went missing to the present of Joe's deathbed where the novel begins. Peters has really given life to her cast of characters, making them people the reader wants to react to and interact with - both positively and negatively. I want Mae and Alice as aunties and I wanted to scream at Lenore and young Joe. Peters also describes tragic events with a deftness and respect that should be applauded, softening the pain while not diminishing the importance of the event. A stunning story that shows how grief can poison us, and how we can try to heal from that pain. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Kidnapping
machenn's review against another edition
reflective
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
bellsdixon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Miscarriage, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy and Lesbophobia
superstormnora's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Beautiful book about family lost and found. I really enjoyed the descriptive writing and the perspective shift between Joe and Norma/Ruthie. Very heart warming with scenes of deep real human sadness
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Miscarriage, and Dementia
nimeneth's review
It's beautifully written but I just.... Couldn't. It was too sad, too negative, and I really couldn't connect with the characters. Norma felt like a cardboard cutout for the first half, and by the time she actually got interesting I was just over the book. Nobody but Alice has any real redeeming qualities, and Alice barely counts as a character since she's only there for a few pages overall. Joe gets no sympathy points for his illness. Also the whole parental guilt bullshit on top of everything else was too much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Racism, Dementia, Grief, and Alcohol
clairebartholomew549's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I found this book to be a thoughtful exploration of the epidemic of white families "adopting" indigenous children and of the generational trauma inflicted by centuries of oppression and forced assimilation. I liked the shifting perspectives, although I found Joe's to be a bit overwrought and self-pitying. I adored the depiction of the weight of Ruthie/Norma's "mother's" expectations and memories on her, and I appreciated how Ruthie/Norma slowly came to understand what had happened to her.
I saw in the reviews that this book was unsatisfying to many, and I agree that it could have benefitted from spending more time on what it was like for Ruthie to reunite with her family after so many years. I would have preferred less cataloguing of Joe's meandering life and more reckoning with the aftermath of Ruthie coming home and coming to terms with her identity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
schausjk's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
Emotional at times with some well-written moments, but also deeply predictable. The book sacrifices much of its tension and pacing in an attempt to lean into being more character driven, but even then it sometimes feels more like outlines of lives rather than fully fleshed out characters. This book would have benefitted from being longer and adding more depth to some of its themes.
As a side note, the repeated casual fatphobia was super irritating. Every single time the author brings up a character's weight, it's always to either make fat characters the butt of a joke or with implications that the fat characters are disgusting or have let themselves go (sometimes it's both!).
As a side note, the repeated casual fatphobia was super irritating. Every single time the author brings up a character's weight, it's always to either make fat characters the butt of a joke or with implications that the fat characters are disgusting or have let themselves go (sometimes it's both!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Fatphobia, Gun violence, and Pregnancy
meganclaire7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Mystery meets historical fiction vibes ~ the whole concept of this book is phenomenal and had me wanting to read more! I really liked the dual POV, however I did think the narrators were unreliable at times (which is not my fav). This book also kinda falls in the coming-of-age genre as it follows the characters throughout their life (if youβre into that) β also, def check TW before reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Dementia, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Grief