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_mims_'s review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Gilbert and Helen are certainly the most well adjusted Brontë couple I’ve read about. Loved the story (especially the first half and helens diary), but the slow resolution was a little painful.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
jmkendall0218's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
lifesarosch's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really devastating picture of abuse in 19th century England. The diary sections were devastating. Women!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
banjo_bunny's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
Moderate: Addiction
impla77's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse
kathann's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
caidyn's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
The best part of this book was Helen's journal. I could have done without the other stuff in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
mattiedancer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
4.75
Writing: 5⭐️/5
Anne Brontë’s writing, much like her sister’s, is thoughtful, intentional, poignant, and full. Reading a Brontë novel feels filling and, even as these novels tend to start slow, they’re always worth the payout. Most of this novel is beautifully written, even stunningly so. No notes.
Characters: 4.75⭐️/5
It was refreshing to see Gilbert’s immense growth through the story. From starting as a bit of a stuck-up farming boy to a thoughtful and moral man was an entertaining read. Similarly, I love Helen with my whole heart, deeply appreciating her desire to be more than just a wife or mother, while also placing those roles and their corresponding responsibilities on a bit of a pedestal. Her feminism was refreshing and her fight against her husband’s control reminded me a lot of bits and pieces of my own life and how, looking back, you realize how blind you’ve been. I struggled a bit with Lawrence, Helen’s brother, and his slightly inconsistent character, but where he failed to deliver, every other character seemed to step up.
Plot: 4.5⭐️/5
I’m going to start with my critique, which is that one of our main characters, in a fit of rage, horrendously injures our other character’s brother. Gilbert is quick to apologize once he realizes the connection between the characters, but it felt like a large obstacle that was shoved conveniently out of the way. Otherwise, I think this novel’s plot progressed nicely, though slowly. I enjoyed the switch of perspectives as it gave a fullness to the story and, even though the switch was the majority of the novel, it felt perfectly timed and well-structured.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of the Brontë sisters
- Fans of classic literature
- Those looking for a slow, romance-heavy read that bends toward feminism
Content Warnings?
- Misogyny, sexism, infidelity, emotional abuse, classism, death of a parent, death, injury, terminal illness, pregnancy, bullying
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
I love Helen and Gilbert.
Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Sexism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
tenant_of_my_library's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
‘he knows he is my sun, but when he chooses to withhold his light, he would have my sky to be all darkness; he cannot bear that I should have a moon to mitigate the deprivation’
Literally my favorite book of all time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcoholism
marilla07's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexism