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melliferamel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Suicide, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Islamophobia, Sexism, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Confinement, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Rape, and Sexual assault
sungyena's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
nym1013's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Rape, Death of parent, and Death
friya's review against another edition
5.0
Such a heartbreaking story. Every character is nuanced and deeply flawed, but I found myself rooting for nearly all of them. Kyung, especially - I felt so disappointed each time he made a bad choice (and he made a lot of bad choices) because I truly wanted him to succeed. I felt so deeply connected to all of the characters.
Jung Yun's writing is perfect, neither too over- nor understated. The prose is nothing groundbreaking but it doesn't leave anything to be desired, either.
One of the reviews on the back of the book reads, "Yun's debut may be a family drama, but it has all the tension of a thriller." I couldn't say it better. This is NOT a thriller, as I have seen other reviews suggesting - it is true literary, but the most gripping literary I've ever read.
This book is about the cruelty of tradition, the contagiousness of violence, and the strength it takes to overcome it all. At the heart of the story is the idea that it is never too late to make a change; the power to show love is always within us, even if all we have ever known is hate. Cannot recommend enough - I was hooked from beginning to end.
Graphic: Physical abuse and Rape
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Blood
odrib's review
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse and Racism
guiltyoftsundoku's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism and Rape
dominicangirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Car accident and Death
Minor: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
malyjohnson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide