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A review by bookmaddie
Bad Fruit by Ella King
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was a great book to buddy read with Suzy. We both were kind of bored with it in the beginning but encouraged each other to keep going, and thank god we did, because we both ended up liking it! However, before I go any further, it must be acknowledged that this book addresses many intense, triggering topics, including child abuse, domestic abuse, self harm, sexual violence and violence.
What begins as a mysterious premise quickly turns into a story of shocking cruelty and unexpected friendship. We follow Lily, on the verge of independence, who suddenly starts experiencing bizarre hallucinations. As the story winds on, Lily uncovers a dark secret that upends her understanding of her family, and has to figure out how to live in this changed world. King explores generational trauma—how stories can be transferred from one person to another, and how that may provide understanding for a person's actions, never absolves them from the consequences of what they've done.
Luckily, Lily gets help from a newfound friend, and I thought this relationship was written with such care and love. I cried twice while reading, and both times were when Lily received the understanding, love, and care from her friend that no one had ever shown her before. This friendship reminds me that there are people out there who are willing to help when you're in a bad situation, which can seem shocking as we live in a rather isolated world where people tend to remain ensconced in their own social circles. King's writing just felt so healing and beautiful to read. The mush in me loved it.
This is an intense, tender, and visceral story unlike anything I've read in awhile. If you think you can handle the content, then I would highly recommend. Thank you Astra House Books for the finished copy! She's gorg.
What begins as a mysterious premise quickly turns into a story of shocking cruelty and unexpected friendship. We follow Lily, on the verge of independence, who suddenly starts experiencing bizarre hallucinations. As the story winds on, Lily uncovers a dark secret that upends her understanding of her family, and has to figure out how to live in this changed world. King explores generational trauma—how stories can be transferred from one person to another, and how that may provide understanding for a person's actions, never absolves them from the consequences of what they've done.
Luckily, Lily gets help from a newfound friend, and I thought this relationship was written with such care and love. I cried twice while reading, and both times were when Lily received the understanding, love, and care from her friend that no one had ever shown her before. This friendship reminds me that there are people out there who are willing to help when you're in a bad situation, which can seem shocking as we live in a rather isolated world where people tend to remain ensconced in their own social circles. King's writing just felt so healing and beautiful to read. The mush in me loved it.
This is an intense, tender, and visceral story unlike anything I've read in awhile. If you think you can handle the content, then I would highly recommend. Thank you Astra House Books for the finished copy! She's gorg.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Self harm