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annaliubych's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
leoniekross's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
We follow Grace, the protagonist, as she narrates how she successfully killed several members of her family over the course of, I would say, about a year or two but was imprisoned for a murder she claims she did not commit.
The plot, while based on an exciting premise reminiscent of the tv series Revenge (if you haven't seen it, I can recommend it far more than this book), was sorely lacking in consistency in tension-building as well as planning and follow-through of the murders. The non-chronological storytelling definitely didn't do it any favours either.
From an editing perspective, I found the present-day prison chapters added nothing to the story and should have been omitted entirely. Would have been the same story but snappier if we had followed along as the crimes unfolded. That would even have given the chance for some insight into impulsive feelings and frantic thoughts that could have humanized the protagonist/narrator a lot.
Instead we got detached, brain-rottingly sarcastic misanthropy and fatphobic pick-me girl behaviour. After 200 pages she still keeps it up; we get it, you like nothing and nobody. Can we please. move. on. now. Sure, the author succeeded in creating an unlikable character but not in writing one I'd actually want to listen to.
All that is made worse by Grace thinking she's the smartest person in any room while behaving so dumb it hurts. She plans to murder her whole family but calling it a plan is a definitive overstatement.
Also, and this is definitely a petty one, she refuses to use the word whom. Sure, it's a nitpick but when a character is so convinced they are better and smarter than all the peasants around her, missed details like that only serve to make her look pathetic. Grace's stupidity is unfortunately what made me the most invested in this story.
The ending felt completely out of left field too. I was convinced for the longest time that
It's not cozy, not intelligent, not suspenseful, and definitely not a good set-up for the sequel that the ending seems to lead into. Can't recommend it to anyone, really.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Murder
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
marieke17'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
3.25
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
reneerianne's review against another edition
Graphic: Fatphobia and Murder
alexan08'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
2.5
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
emmalouix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Fatphobia
samothraces's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Classism
Minor: Drug use
franceselsie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Cursing and Violence
Minor: Fatphobia
betweenpagesandcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder and Grief
chronically_theo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
I initially enjoyed it but paragraphs about the main characters horrible views ruined it. There are other ways than insulting minority groups to get across your point that the main character is a bad person.
It had multiple bits saying how most influencers fake disability or mental illness for views and individuality which is disgusting but sadly something that most people seem to believe.
It also has instances body shaming characters and it wasn't just veiled comments but full out paragraphs about how "disgusting" it was that they enjoyed themselves when they had acne or were fat. (Obviously this isn't true your body fine the way it is.)
And at least one homophobic bit where the main character was saying that another character labeled themselves as pansexual but had only dated men then giving their opinion that they can't have been pansexual because they only have dated men. (This isn't true most people only realise later in life that they like other genders so it's entirely reasonable.)
Conclusion: Read it if you like but understand that the book has many harmful views in it.
Graphic: Ableism, Fatphobia, and Homophobia