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rebeccadiv'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
2.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Abandonment, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Pedophilia and Animal cruelty
citybound13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Suicide, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Vomit, Miscarriage, Death, Murder, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Dementia, and Death of parent
awhitson'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
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Rape, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Abortion, and Physical abuse
Very well written. Very dark.laedyred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Abandonment, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Infertility, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Child abuse, Suicide, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault
alex_likesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Suicide, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Infertility
kendoge'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Infertility, Child abuse, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Child death, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Grief, Physical abuse, Murder, Drug abuse, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Sexism, Self harm, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Infidelity, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
rachthecreator's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Murder, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Abandonment, Child death, Miscarriage, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Dementia, Suicide, and Vomit
aranxap15'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
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Suicide, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Eating disorder, and Death of parent
astoriareader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- On the first page, we are told a man killed himself in front of Joan. This sends Joan to flee across the country to LA. She is in search of a yoga instructor named Alice, but we have no idea why. We do know that her parents are no longer alive, and nothing seems to be keeping her in New York City.
- She moves into a compound, where several other people live. Her landlord is a strange older man.
- Joan vaguely refers to some trauma that happened when she was a child.
- There are lots of questions. Who is Alice? What happened to her parents? What trauma did Joan experience? Who is Joan narrating the story to? What is up with the landlord? Why did the man kill himself in front of her?
- This book is very dark & uses vulgar language in different parts. If you have any triggers, it is worth it to check out content warnings.
- The execution of this novel is impressive. It’s like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. Taddeo gives vivid, unsparing descriptions, and I can see this being divisive among readers. This will be either a book you love or a book you hate. I don’t see it falling in the middle.
- Although some parts are hard to read, I found myself unable to put down.
- Joan tells us the story, and despite being unlikable, she’s actually a fascinating character. Taddeo deftly makes it so you understand the character, even when you don’t like her. I found myself rooting for her, which I can’t say I have ever done for a main character that I didn’t like. Joan is complex & layered. She’s both a victim and a villain.
- We get a lot of flashbacks & insight into Joan’s past. Taddeo skillfully plots the book & intertwines stories from the past. There are deep wounds in her childhood. The family dynamics are extremely interesting. With the flashbacks, I felt for Joan, and I saw at her core that she was a little girl that only even wanted love (particularly her mother’s). The book looks at how our childhoods shape us & intergenerational trauma as well.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Abortion, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Infidelity, Rape, Abandonment, Child abuse, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
ashpociadlo'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
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Blood, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Drug use, Death of parent, Death, Murder, Infertility, Grief, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Dementia, Child death, Abandonment, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Child abuse