A review by toscareads
The Places I've Cried in Public by Holly Bourne

dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The novel is about a girl, Amelie, who was in an abusive relationship with a boy, Reese. The book switches tenses to detail events as they happened in the relationship, and then to Amelie looking back on those experiences, trying to understand why what he did was abusive. 

It’s a super easy read, but encompasses such an important topic. I think Bourne did a great job of not making a story about a rather heavy topic too difficult to read. It allows a younger audience to also understand that a relationship like the one detailed in the book is abusive, and it spreads awareness, but simultaneously makes it clear that that is not the end. There is hope. 

I also think that in a lot of fantasy stories, or even romance novels, unhealthy relationships can sometimes be glamorised; the thrill of the chase, saying one thing and then doing another, being hateful to one another one minute and then kissing the next, etc. I think it’s good that there are also books out there that discuss that maybe ‘excitement’ isn’t always favourable over ‘safety’ when it comes to love. 
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