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kshertz'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
4.0
Minor: Sexual content, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
kyrstin_p1989'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
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Classism, Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Infertility, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault
goatsrsexy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I went into this book mostly blind, I had it on hold at the library but I keep things on hold for a really long time so who knows when I added it. The whole time I was reading I just felt this sense of dread, I was so so uncomfortable.
Some parts of it, especially the climax, felt a little bit rushed and unrealistic, but I did really enjoy the experience. I like seeing an unlikeable protagonist that is still a deep character with explanations for her actions, and this was done very well.
There's a fair amount of trauma dumping and descriptions of SA and grooming.
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
greatlibraryofalexandra'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
5.0
This book was great. Like a psychological, cerebral, millennial 'Misery.' A meditative "Ingrid Goes West" that had a condemning and satisfying ending (whereas that movie was terrible). I was absorbed in this book even when I was horrified. I understood where this was going to go on page 127 of the book, but it did not deter my enjoyment - and I was even sure I was wrong for a while. I loved the way it played with the perception of self that warps us, as children of the millennia half-obsessed with social media, and how it walked this clever line of being clearly unstable...but also almost convincing you it was a little justifiable, because Caleb...well, he was lying!
It also had a subtle way of accepting its unoriginality by facing it, relying on the repeated theme of "yes, but there are lots of books that focus on women stalking other women" - a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of stories recycled, and twisted into something unique, and successful because we all keep going back to the same old thing, and the same old lesson learned. This was just really grody and fun to read and fun to live vicariously through. Am I ever going to behave like this? No, it's psychotic. Do I sometimes want to? Hmm.
There's a voyeur in all of us and Caitlin Barasch is calling us out.
TW: There's a rape scene in this book, but (oddly) I think it's...important. It explicitly discusses the difference between a bodily reaction and a verbal reaction, and the representation of the FMC's mental state over the incident while it is happening is done very very well done.
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
thelastjaz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Infertility, and Sexual assault
sarahkillian16'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
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Infertility
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Cancer
marpaige'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: Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
deezy'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
2.75
Graphic: Rape, Stalking, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Medical trauma
prose_before_sews'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
Moderate: Stalking, Infertility, and Sexual assault
laurenkchung'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship