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A review by taliatalksbooks
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
*TW: Sexual assault; rape; sexism; racism; misogyny; domestic violence; toxic relationships; grief; abandonment*
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore was a deep dive into the characters of a small town in Texas. This heartbreaking read centers around the trial of a crime, and shows true to life examples of how people react to news of sexual assault and rape. This book was incredibly moving and depressing with each page turned, and reminded me a lot of a modern day To Kill A Mockingbird. I found the characters compelling, but I wish led we could have taken a deeper dive into some of the characters. Some of the women featured only got one segment, which left me wanting more of their perspectives. This story really focused on the characters, which is why I was a bit disappointed when we didn’t dive deeper into some of the narrating women. They were all interesting in unique ways, and I think that it was extremely powerful to tell this story through only female perspectives. This book read as both the past and future given our current social climate here in the U.S., and because of that I think it is especially important to read, given that we are in an election year once again.
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore was a deep dive into the characters of a small town in Texas. This heartbreaking read centers around the trial of a crime, and shows true to life examples of how people react to news of sexual assault and rape. This book was incredibly moving and depressing with each page turned, and reminded me a lot of a modern day To Kill A Mockingbird. I found the characters compelling, but I wish led we could have taken a deeper dive into some of the characters. Some of the women featured only got one segment, which left me wanting more of their perspectives. This story really focused on the characters, which is why I was a bit disappointed when we didn’t dive deeper into some of the narrating women. They were all interesting in unique ways, and I think that it was extremely powerful to tell this story through only female perspectives. This book read as both the past and future given our current social climate here in the U.S., and because of that I think it is especially important to read, given that we are in an election year once again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Sexism, Abortion, Addiction, Animal death, Cursing, Abandonment, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Cancer, Deportation, Grief, Sexual assault, Self harm, Racism, Rape, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, and Mental illness