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megansmith's review
- 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
3.0
Pro for this book: I've read a lot of fiction and nonfiction in the "terrible workplace" category, and this definitely turns that concept on it's head. It's unique and surprising as you work your way towards the end, which I think these books tend to lack in this category - shock-filled descriptions of workplace abuse with flat, predictable endings plague this genre. This is not that...but also, what even is this? It almost catapults into an entirely opposite direction, flipping from weird moments of surprise and intrigue to complete shock and disgust. I want to find the meaning in why the author chose to go this route, but the direction feels SO stark and graphic that it feels done more as a means to shock over saying something meaningful or going to those violent extremes for a purpose.
The ending also, for all the violence it built up to, fittered out in the most important moment. Even just a few more pages of struggle, or not a random cut
The writing building up to this moment was well done, and thoughtful in building out the character's back story before bringing her to the main conflicts. But the ending just frankly ruined any hard work done by the beginning of the book, all in the name of shock value. I wanted to like this more but I'm not really sure how to feel other than kind of disappointed by the ending.
Graphic: Vomit, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Torture, Pregnancy, and Rape
luisaslittlelibary'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Vomit and Drug use
mementomoriiv's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Vomit and Car accident
irenemarie's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Body horror, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Body shaming, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Infertility, Rape, Racism, Murder, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Drug use
Minor: Car accident, Eating disorder, Blood, and Vomit
bluejayreads's review
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Sexism, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Bullying
Unreality Narrator is on several cases drugged without her knowledge and/or agreementzeroschatz's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Body horror, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and Drug use
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Violence, and Rape
whitneymouse's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Dysphoria, and Death of parent
Moderate: Vomit, Fatphobia, Racism, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Classism, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Blood, Cannibalism, Xenophobia, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, and Miscarriage
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Pedophilia
clairebau's review
- 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
3.5
I'll start with my issues: the pacing was off. The ending felt rushed. I was disappointed by this.
This book reminded me why I love reading women written by women. The characters are rich and well-defined yet described simplistically in a quick, punchy writing style that I just adore. I'm not generally into mysteries, but I had a ton of fun piecing together details to try to solve the plot of this horror/thriller combo. Gorgeously, gorgeously done. Exposition was provided in a perfect steady drip that captivated me. The characters are awesome. The gore is written so effectively; the horror is intrinsic, and never did I have to be told how scared or unnerved to feel. God, I love weird books. As someone who struggles with her relationship to beauty as a "hobbyist" and willing participant but still identifies as a more radical-leaning feminist, this was the book for me. Everyone quotes this, but I'll drop it here too:
"Beauty has always been one of the ways women have been able to access power, and I can't fault any of them for wanting more of it."
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Torture, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit
cheyison's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Medical content, Gore, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Pregnancy, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death and Cannibalism
battysbooks'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
2.75
Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Medical content, and Blood