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irinavip 's review for:
Releasing 10
by Chloe Walsh
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a hard book to read. Definitely check trigger warnings on that one.
In terms of writing, this book is perhaps the one I liked the least of the whole BOT series. I didn't feel as emotionally connected to the characters as in the previous books, perhaps because I wasn't even interested in L&H story in the first place. That said, having read Lizzie's story makes me understand why she was behaving the way she did in the previous books. And I obviously loved Hughie, so I hope to read more about his story in the future books. I'm also hoping for some sort of closure between Lizzie and Gibs.
One thing that didn't sit right with me in this book is how unrealistically mature Hugh was portrayed from the very beginning. I understand that the boy was well-read and smart, but some things were just very hard to believe. How does a 7 year-old child know about panic attacks and how to deal with them? Or about Georgian architecture? There's also a chapter where a 12 yo Hugh has such an emotionally mature conversation with someone that no other adult in this book is even remotely capable of. I do believe that people like this exist, but 12 year-olds?? Highly unlikely...
I also didn't particularly like the way this book is structured — short disjointed chapters, almost like diary entries that go back to when they were kids — I much prefer the structure of B13/K13. I didn't like it in other books of the series either, but those ones didn't go back that far into the characters' childhood. I'm hoping the story of the next couple she'll write about doesn't start in the womb...
Having said all that, I still liked this book and devoured it in a matter of days. I'm looking forward to reading the next book whenever it comes out.
In terms of writing, this book is perhaps the one I liked the least of the whole BOT series. I didn't feel as emotionally connected to the characters as in the previous books, perhaps because I wasn't even interested in L&H story in the first place. That said, having read Lizzie's story makes me understand why she was behaving the way she did in the previous books. And I obviously loved Hughie, so I hope to read more about his story in the future books. I'm also hoping for some sort of closure between Lizzie and Gibs.
One thing that didn't sit right with me in this book is how unrealistically mature Hugh was portrayed from the very beginning. I understand that the boy was well-read and smart, but some things were just very hard to believe. How does a 7 year-old child know about panic attacks and how to deal with them? Or about Georgian architecture? There's also a chapter where a 12 yo Hugh has such an emotionally mature conversation with someone that no other adult in this book is even remotely capable of. I do believe that people like this exist, but 12 year-olds?? Highly unlikely...
I also didn't particularly like the way this book is structured — short disjointed chapters, almost like diary entries that go back to when they were kids — I much prefer the structure of B13/K13. I didn't like it in other books of the series either, but those ones didn't go back that far into the characters' childhood. I'm hoping the story of the next couple she'll write about doesn't start in the womb...
Having said all that, I still liked this book and devoured it in a matter of days. I'm looking forward to reading the next book whenever it comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent