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vanesst's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Sexual violence and Pedophilia
Minor: Abandonment, Infidelity, Cancer, and Medical content
catslippers's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Loved: King's description of places and emotions, the theme of misogyny
Meh: a slow middle section with an unnecessary love triangle. I don't think Silas added much to the story.
Meh: a slow middle section with an unnecessary love triangle. I don't think Silas added much to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Pedophilia
meemawreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Oooooo I love being surprised by a book! I checked out Lily King’s 2020 novel because it was available and I hated what I was reading. This is my first by her so I went in with zero expectations and it took my heart hostage.
Casey is a protagonist who showed a lot of promise in golf as a kid, but is now a lost 30-something with an unfinished book and a mountain of debt, grieving her recently dead mother while waiting tables and living in a potting shed. I relate to the anxiety of her directionlessness and health concerns - I, too, had a LEEP procedure and haven’t ever read an accurate capture of what it’s like to smell your own cervical flesh burning. It feels familiar to watch this character get in her own way and know it, but be helpless to stop it like an out-of-body experience. It’s satisfying to see Casey walk away from broken men and discover the power she wields if she spends that energy on herself instead of trying to fix them.
I enjoyed the ride and this is just my ole grizzled cynicism talking, but the ending was very... tidy. There is nothing wrong with tidiness after a whole book of watching a protagonist shift priorities and move in the direction of her goals, it just came together a little neatly for my crone-in-a-potting-shed taste.
Take care picking this up if “father figure losing his job for sexual misconduct concerning minors” is a plot point that would put you in a bad spot. It’s not a huge one, but it’s there.
4.5 taters because Meemaw is too cynical for the romaince but wants to make Casey a pot of tea 🥔🥔🥔🥔🍠/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
Casey is a protagonist who showed a lot of promise in golf as a kid, but is now a lost 30-something with an unfinished book and a mountain of debt, grieving her recently dead mother while waiting tables and living in a potting shed. I relate to the anxiety of her directionlessness and health concerns - I, too, had a LEEP procedure and haven’t ever read an accurate capture of what it’s like to smell your own cervical flesh burning. It feels familiar to watch this character get in her own way and know it, but be helpless to stop it like an out-of-body experience. It’s satisfying to see Casey walk away from broken men and discover the power she wields if she spends that energy on herself instead of trying to fix them.
I enjoyed the ride and this is just my ole grizzled cynicism talking, but the ending was very... tidy. There is nothing wrong with tidiness after a whole book of watching a protagonist shift priorities and move in the direction of her goals, it just came together a little neatly for my crone-in-a-potting-shed taste.
Take care picking this up if “father figure losing his job for sexual misconduct concerning minors” is a plot point that would put you in a bad spot. It’s not a huge one, but it’s there.
4.5 taters because Meemaw is too cynical for the romaince but wants to make Casey a pot of tea 🥔🥔🥔🥔🍠/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Medical content
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