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challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Medical content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Over a decade ago I looked up books to read and made a long list from several articles of books to convince my mom to buy. She didn't buy a single one. I remember this being on the list. And now I'm like, why? Thank goodness I found this at a used bookstore shop in Pasadena. It was a cute read, very creative, very fun. Beautiful gowns. I have the opinion that white people can't / shouldn't write magical realism because they never quite get it right. This book is only more evidence toward my theory, but it was a good effort, Miss Bender. I'll give you that. I had fun but I wasn't blown away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder
Minor: Ableism, Medical content
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A really, beautifully bittersweet book. As someone who has both issues around eating and a mother who had an affair, it's possible this hit me much harder than it might hit another reader. Even then, I'd recommend trying it, with the caveat that this is much less about Rose's powers, and much more of a classic Bildungsroman.
The "powers" that arise in the book are intriguing and odd. Often in contemporary literature it feels like the characters are just an assembly of quirks—here we have, for instance, a fear of hospitals so bad it keeps Rose's father from attending either of their births—with nothing truly human or relatable layered underneath. Aimee Bender avoids that neatly, carefully capturing realistic emotions, responses and relationship subtleties which flesh all the characters out well beyond those token quirky traits.
I found the writing engaging and easy to read, with a simple beauty to it without turning to purple prose, and the stylistic choice not to use quotation marks (which I've seen before occasionally in other works) fits well here. I also felt that the ending worked well, and I'm surprised to read in other reviews that people found it came out of nowhere or ruined things. Rose's journey from being a child overwhelmed by the information her ability reveals to her to an adult who's found her own way to survive is the main emotional arc of the book, and it closes well.
The "powers" that arise in the book are intriguing and odd. Often in contemporary literature it feels like the characters are just an assembly of quirks—here we have, for instance, a fear of hospitals so bad it keeps Rose's father from attending either of their births—with nothing truly human or relatable layered underneath. Aimee Bender avoids that neatly, carefully capturing realistic emotions, responses and relationship subtleties which flesh all the characters out well beyond those token quirky traits.
I found the writing engaging and easy to read, with a simple beauty to it without turning to purple prose, and the stylistic choice not to use quotation marks (which I've seen before occasionally in other works) fits well here. I also felt that the ending worked well, and I'm surprised to read in other reviews that people found it came out of nowhere or ruined things. Rose's journey from being a child overwhelmed by the information her ability reveals to her to an adult who's found her own way to survive is the main emotional arc of the book, and it closes well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Toxic friendship
Minor: Death, Drug use, Suicide, Dementia, Abandonment, Alcohol
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Minor: Body horror
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What struck me almost immediately was the rich and diverse descriptions. The author drew me in with the robust language. I could smell and taste the food, see the surroundings, and feel the anguish of the characters. A surprising and very enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness
Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Grief
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the no quotation marks style for the dialogue took some getting used to but i think it added to the overall poignant, melancholy, stream of consciousness vibe of this book. I kinda liked it. If you enjoy stories about families (happy ones, sad ones, angry ones, emotionally stunted ones etc.) then you might delight in the complications of family life and growing pains present here. Definitely not a light read. More a, if-you’re-sad-this-might-make-you-even-more-sad type of read. But I did enjoy going thru the journey of Rose’s evolution and getting used to her special skill. I found myself rooting for her, for real. And the thing with her brother… sure was a thing. It was quite the shocker so, that was good, i guess? Also, I wish there were more food descriptions when she was at George’s wedding, like, let’s unpack that!
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Eating disorder, Suicide
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Grief