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jenniferpalmblad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Incest, Kidnapping, Murder, Addiction, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Stalking
kittykatkatboom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, and Mental illness
danigraham's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Murder, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Violence, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Stalking, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Minor: Grief, Death, Emotional abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Incest, Confinement, and Adult/minor relationship
amirahazhar's review against another edition
4.0
TW: pedophilia, grooming and rape.
Graphic: Stalking, Rape, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, and Incest
sizzlesteaks's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
kayraine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Moderate: Incest and Adult/minor relationship
dusktreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I think Jewell could have created the same experience for readers of a character who is either trapped and desperate or an evil mastermind or somewhere in between without leaning on common misconceptions about abuse, or by subverting them instead of conforming to them, which I think is a real missed opportunity and could have been a much stronger book.
Graphic: Alcohol, Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Grief, Child abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Emotional abuse
monicadee88'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Incest
youmns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I didn't think I'd enjoy this listen. Boy, was I wrong. The fully-voiced interjections add a lot to the story, adding a layer to the experience. This sort of thing isn't in my wheelhouse - trauma porn, beach read, that sort of thing - but, wow, was it well-written.
Josie starts out totally sympathetic, a pitiful woman who lost so much of her life trapped in an early marriage to a much older man. The more you hear about her life, the less sympathetic she is. Alix starts out the golden goddess, like so many influencers out there, putting out a certain image on her socials, but her life is shown to be just as normal as (or more dramatic than) the average person. None of the principal characters is who they appear to be. The title is pretty spot-on.
Just a note:
I don't think I'll seek out anything else by Lisa Jewell, but I wouldn't necessarily turn my nose up if a friend recommended it. What a ride.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Kidnapping, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Incest, Torture, Cursing, Bullying, and Toxic friendship
jmiles758'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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Ableism, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Death, Incest, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse