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flovvergirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Good:
I related to the characters, especially Henry. I enjoyed the way that Schwab wove the stories together. I know that her method of back and forth doesn't work for everyone, but I find it engaging and it really kept me wanting to read more. I think that Addie was a believable, flawed character, and I had a good time learning about her and what was important to her. I liked her tenacity and temerity, I liked that she was harsh and able to do what was needed to survive. I sobbed. Like, so hard that I needed to take an ibuprofen. I thought that Luc was a fun antagonist in the beginning, and a good display of a manipulative, abusive partner. His actions shaped Addie's actions, and he effectively used the situation he created against her to get her to do what he wanted time and time again. I enjoyed the relationship between Henry and Addie. I think that it was clear that Luc putting them into one another's paths was a mistake on his part. They helped each other grow, and I believe they loved each other. I also like their dates and the way their relationship was explored in small--if whimsical--vignettes. It successfully brought a magical feeling to their relationship while making it relatable and imparting the inherency of their end. I liked the description of depression (particularly the storm cloud analogy), though I would have liked to see at least a little more of it in that year-ish of their relationship. I enjoyed the imagery and thought it was well used to create meaning throughout the novel.
Some of the imagery felt like it was overused, particularly the: ideas are like roots. Though I really enjoyed that idea, I would have liked to see expansion on it instead of it just being said over and over again. It was hard to suspend disbelief that Addie was able to spend so much time with people without them forgetting her. What did she do when they had to pee? As a chronic water drinker, I had a hard time with that issue. Luc got less interesting by the end. I would have liked to see him behave more cruelly, or maybe I would have liked Addie to be more aware of his cruelty or more hurt by his actions? I'm not sure. I think that part of the reason that abuse works is this sort of need for approval, and I don't think that that relationship and its effects were deeply explored with growing awareness on Addie's part. There was one point--and I don't know if I just misunderstood it--where Addie said it was the first time she'd ever had Champagne, but a few chapters earlier, she'd said she drank a bottle of Champagne. I double-checked the timing and everything and it seemed like it was a contradiction. This is kind of a nitpick, but eh.
In Conclusion:
I found this book moving. I felt that it had a good exploration of ideas about life and beauty, but ultimately, it felt melancholic. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes life is melancholic. I enjoyed the book and I think it was a valuable thing to read, but it wasn't a fun thing to read, really. Even when exploring the whimsy and excitement of Addie and Henry's blossoming relationship, there was this undercurrent of doom. I ached with the characters, but I couldn't set aside the inevitable the way they did. The emotion was executed excellently. Some of the ideas could have been explored more, and I wish that Luc served as a better representation of an abusive relationship, because that's what his relationship with Addie was. I don't think that Schwab romanticized it, though it does feel that she shied away from peeling back its layers and showing the rotten truth of it. Overall, that's why it's getting a four. It was great, but there were a few serious flaws that kept it from really surpassing my expectations, which admittedly, were high. Schwab was and still is one of my personal favorite authors and I will continue to read everything she puts out and work through her backlist.
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Emotional abuse
wombat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, Toxic relationship, War, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Suicide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting
carefulfearanddeaddevotion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I hate to say this because
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Violence, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
Minor: Kidnapping, War, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
hazelbcap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Death, and War
mald626's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Mental illness and Emotional abuse
koplomps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Grief, and Misogyny
Minor: War, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, and Confinement
megshughes_13's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and War
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual violence
mikansundays's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Minor: Sexual assault and Emotional abuse
epellicci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault