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suzy_urch's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Murder
brentdot's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
jillaay_h's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Toxic friendship
mle11's review
2.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
lisettemarie's review
3.5
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
esme_may's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, and War
crweber25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall this was written well, and it kept me reading even when I discovered it wasn't quite what I had anticipated.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
thatswhatshanread's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
1. From BOTM’s description and the book’s general marketing, I fully expected this to be a horror/thriller. It was not. It was more just a family drama with a supernatural sort-of twist with half of the book’s POV set in literal Hell.
2. Every time I picked this book up to read it over the last several months, I was bored. The first half of the book seems like it’s going NOWHERE and nothing stuck. The storyline that follows Peyote in Hell seems completely irrelevant to the storyline in present day that follows The Harrison family.
3. But then, it finally picks up. Once I finally pushed myself to get more into it (after almost DNFing many times), something shifted. The stakes changed. Suddenly the Harrison family story is dysfunctional and mysterious and gripping. The Peyote storyline shows potential of intersecting with the other, some interesting twists come about.
4. Still, it’s confusing. I still have no idea how they will connect, just that now Peyote is actually referencing the Harrison family members and their dilemmas.
5. Peyote and Cal’s plot becomes even more confusing and drawn out. But I’m very intrigued with the POVs from the Harrisons’ side.
6. I finish the last 250 pages within a couple days. The pacing finally hit a sweet spot for me. The imminent ending seemed promising; everything would finally make sense.
7. Except… it wasn’t? And it didn’t?
This really felt like two different books in one. In the end, I was still confused, and disappointed in all of that buildup to… what, exactly? I would have rather read about only The Harrisons. But I guess it was entertaining, nonetheless. Something different. Just maybe not the different I wanted it to be.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Pedophilia, Sexism, Stalking, and Abortion
ggreen1379's review
3.5
Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Pedophilia and Terminal illness
maggieparedesauthor's review
- 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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail