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moriahleigh's review
- 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
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Murder, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
knkoch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
There are some interesting ideas explored here, like the contrast between visible and quiet wealth. The way the wholesomeness of Gideon and Ivy’s families seem to switch from childhood to adulthood, in the same way their finances do, seems to speak to the way poverty grinds people down into worse versions of themselves. And the treatment of the Lin’s immigrant experience is handled well. But I can’t really see myself recommending this book. I lost heart in all of the characters about two thirds of the way through. When I can’t identify with anyone’s choices or motivations in a story, I struggle to stay invested in the outcome. To me, there’s just no light in this. I guess I need more of that in a story, somewhere, so this one was just too dark and grim for me.
Graphic: Eating disorder and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Death, and Alcohol
painausten314's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Ivy Lin is an unreliable main character, and this whole story is warped by her perspective. A lot of the characters seem like bad people, but I found myself constantly questioning how bad of people they really were, because I was viewing all of them through Ivy’s eyes.
The theme of ownership comes up several times in this book. Ivy struggles to change her destiny, take ownership over her own life, but always ends up under the thumb of somebody else.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism, and Toxic relationship
alyssa_tauber's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Death, Murder, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
angstyevie'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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Mental illness, Classism, Car accident, and Blood
kutreen's review
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Eating disorder, Medical content, and Murder