A review by pain_org
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This was a book that I struggled to get through. It was so uncomfortable. Why a book like this needs to be written I will never understand. The book had no meaning behind it, this was simply a love story about an 8 year old to 21 year old and a 24 year old to 36 year old. That’s it. The author tries to make it out like the child is the perpetrator in this gross relationship. I have read peoples comments and reviews on this book and it is confusing to me how you can root for this girl to be groomed. The same with the character. There are characters in this book that have redeeming qualities and then it gets to the end and those are all swept aside because they are so happy for that the groomed gets to live the rest of her life with her groomer. 
Like I said, this book had no meaning behind it, and I’m not someone who wants to read this type of book with rose tinted glasses on like so many other readers did. This book was easy to read in black and white because that’s how it was told. 
Also, “love knows no boundaries” on the back of the book is disgusting. Boundaries can definitely be set for “love”, especially when it’s an 8 year old and a 24 year old falling “in love.” That’s just not okay. Read “My Dark Vanessa” instead if you don’t want to read about pedophilia being romanticized. 
Two stars because the writing and story telling was good. Three stars subtracted because this book was vile and uncomfortable and just felt like the author was grossly sexualizing an actual child.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings