Scan barcode
laurenvoice's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
My Policeman does not live up to the hype it gets. The story was somewhat disappointing. Although the topic of this book was an important one; especially, it highlights just how recent the criminalisation of being gay, bisexual or lesbian recently was, a sad and terrifying fact. It could have been written completely differently.
What Marion did to Patrick is not defendable; it was disgusting. However, she did not deserve the gaslighting, and the emotional abuse in the lead-up, and by the sounds of it after, what she did. Tom is an unlikeable character, he screams toxic, his actions towards both Marion and Patrick are toxic. He seemed a selfish man. And it felt as if these abusive actions were glossed over.
It bears repeating, if Roberts accepted that Marion was bi or a lesbian, falling for the het-norms, we could have seen a beautiful relationship between Marion and Julia, and could have saved Patrick a lot of pain!
Graphic: Gaslighting and Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide and Terminal illness
hmatt's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Despite how synopses may read, this is absolutely not a book about the title policeman (Tom). While he is the main subject, the story tells us very little about him except for how his wife and lover perceived of him throughout time. It really tells us more about the relationship between his wife and his lover. A reader who neglects to acknowledge the unreliability of these two narrators loses the point of the story entirely, in my opinion. I found it brilliant because they are each so selfishly obsessed with their own idea of this man who doesn't have a voice of his own throughout the narrative.
'What about my silence, Marion? Did you ever think about that? You have no idea...' His voice cracked. He loosened his grip on me and turned his face away.
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Grief and Sexism
Minor: Hate crime, Sexual content, and Violence
period-typical homophobia, sexismneptunereign'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Infidelity
Moderate: Grief and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Sexism, and Misogyny
oliverlang'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? It's complicated
3.25
I didn't not enjoy this book, it was easy to read and there were some nice parts but it's not a must read for me. As a queer person, it will never not be wild to me reading about the criminalisation of the existence of lgbtq+ people.
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
trintrin'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
4.0
Not a fan of the writing style. There were wayyy too many Marion scenes for my liking. I don't think I've ever hated a main character this much. Wanted more of Patrick, and Tom was completely absent. But aside form that, it's a pretty good book. Apt to that era of time. Throughout the entire book, I kept imaging the characters as their actors, even thought I've literally never watched the movie (and the movie hadn't even been out when I read this too)
Patrick's jail time was just way too cruel man. Really glad Marion's "plan" backfired so spectacularly. Julia was the best, my fave. This book portrays the kind of prejudice the LGBTQ+ community had to put up with in the past, and still have to in some countries. So this was an eye-opener, in a way. But also, at times, it felt really obvious it was written by a straight white woman.
Anyways, I read this only for Harry Styles :D
Graphic: Outing, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Terminal illness and Suicide
woolfism'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
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Outing, Infidelity, Homophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Gaslighting, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, Medical content, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism
spacecowgirl'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
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content and Hate crime
tagbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content, Hate crime, and Terminal illness
scewart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Outing, Infidelity, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness
Minor: Lesbophobia
girlfrom105's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's beutifuly written, it makes you feel all types of emotions. I loved and hated every one of the characters.
My favorite part is the first part narrated by Patrick and I also love when Marion describes the smell of things, I don't know why.
It's very real, layered, it's that story that you read and it stays with you for a long time.
Patrick and Julia are my favorite no one deserves them.
If the dusches is not in the movie adaptation I'll be forever disappointed.
The change the characters go throughout the years are believable and tragic. I recommend it.
Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Death of parent