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sarahzimm 's review for:
Releasing 10
by Chloe Walsh
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
NOT YA AND NEVER SHOULD BE. This book felt fast to me in a good and bad way. Before that, though, PLEASE PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! This book talks about child sexual assault, suicide, and self-harm multiple times. I can understand the hate that this book is getting. A lot of times, this book made me physically ill and uncomfortable. However, I read other reviews that said this topic should make you feel uncomfortable and sickening because, as much as we don't want to think about it, child sexual assault does happen. It might not have happened to someone you know, but it happens, and the uncomfortable sickening feeling is the point. Not glossing over it is important. People can be horrible and disgusting, and no child should have to go through this, but they do.
Another thing I do agree is that Gibsie and Lizzie experiences are totally different. People experience and process trauma differently. The books are different because of many reasons. Although some people think Chloe was going to release this first and then Taming 7, I do like how she published it instead. I felt like we needed the less graphic book first before this one came around.
I used to dislike Lizzie. I thought her character wasn't really impactful or important to the friend group, but how I was so wrong. We learn so much about Lizzie that she has now become one of my top 5 favorite characters. I hope Chloe Walsh releases the next book by the end of this year or next year because this book was so crazy painful. I feel like we need to know what happens next to either another couple or Lizzie and Hugh.
SPOILER DO NOT READ PAST THIS UNLESS YOU FINISHED THE BOOK:
I do think, after news got out on Taming 7 that maybe Hugh had some realization about Lizzie. That if Gibsie got hurt by this person that Lizzie did too. I feel like Hugh either knows by the end of Taming 7 or has a hunch, and it is eating him alive. I love both Lizzie and Gibsie, and I wish they could talk to one another openly. I feel like they would need one another to heal. I am so upset at the parents and medical professionals, though. I feel like they failed them both but especially Lizzie. I know Lizzie was diagnosed bipolar BUT Lizzie was screaming for help. When Hugh told her about the spots people shouldn't touch / the private areas. She was screaming for help, but everyone thought it was a tantrum or an episode. When Hugh SAW the scary lady though that should have given someone "red flags" that maybe Lizzie is telling the truth about the monster that sneaks into her bed at night. Maybe her having nightmares each night would be more alarming. Lizzie needed a therapist whom she went to daily or weekly. She needed a therapist whom she had to see regularly to pick up what was going on. I am so upset about what happened.
ON TOP OF THAT, Caoimhe finds out what happened to Gibsie AND THEN connects the dots to her sister. Sickening. Then finding out Mark drugs and potentially murders her??? Mark is such an evil, horrible person, and I hope that he faces his justice. For what he did to Lizzie, Gibsie, and Caoimhe. I am scared though,h that Mark hurt Bethany as well but I guess we will never know...Hugh gut feeling about Mark was spot on and I wish so dearly someone clocked it. I actually could not stomach the moments Mark was mentioned. When Caoimhe said she heard Lizzie screaming at night....I wanted to scream "how many of those screams was her nightmares vs what Mark was actively doing to her in that moment???"
Hugh was such a godsend. I felt exhausted for him multiple times but he tried so hard. Harder than any young child should had to. Hugh and Claire was this angel sent from god for many people but especially for the ones who Marked hurt. If I kept writing this review, I'd be reviewing this whole book. So I will end it here but I need the next book to come out now so I can get either glimpses of Lizzie and Hugh or hopefully get the justice that Lizzie and Gibsie both badly deserve.
Another thing I do agree is that Gibsie and Lizzie experiences are totally different. People experience and process trauma differently. The books are different because of many reasons. Although some people think Chloe was going to release this first and then Taming 7, I do like how she published it instead. I felt like we needed the less graphic book first before this one came around.
I used to dislike Lizzie. I thought her character wasn't really impactful or important to the friend group, but how I was so wrong. We learn so much about Lizzie that she has now become one of my top 5 favorite characters. I hope Chloe Walsh releases the next book by the end of this year or next year because this book was so crazy painful. I feel like we need to know what happens next to either another couple or Lizzie and Hugh.
SPOILER DO NOT READ PAST THIS UNLESS YOU FINISHED THE BOOK:
I do think, after news got out on Taming 7 that maybe Hugh had some realization about Lizzie. That if Gibsie got hurt by this person that Lizzie did too. I feel like Hugh either knows by the end of Taming 7 or has a hunch, and it is eating him alive. I love both Lizzie and Gibsie, and I wish they could talk to one another openly. I feel like they would need one another to heal. I am so upset at the parents and medical professionals, though. I feel like they failed them both but especially Lizzie. I know Lizzie was diagnosed bipolar BUT Lizzie was screaming for help. When Hugh told her about the spots people shouldn't touch / the private areas. She was screaming for help, but everyone thought it was a tantrum or an episode. When Hugh SAW the scary lady though that should have given someone "red flags" that maybe Lizzie is telling the truth about the monster that sneaks into her bed at night. Maybe her having nightmares each night would be more alarming. Lizzie needed a therapist whom she went to daily or weekly. She needed a therapist whom she had to see regularly to pick up what was going on. I am so upset about what happened.
ON TOP OF THAT, Caoimhe finds out what happened to Gibsie AND THEN connects the dots to her sister. Sickening. Then finding out Mark drugs and potentially murders her??? Mark is such an evil, horrible person, and I hope that he faces his justice. For what he did to Lizzie, Gibsie, and Caoimhe. I am scared though,h that Mark hurt Bethany as well but I guess we will never know...Hugh gut feeling about Mark was spot on and I wish so dearly someone clocked it. I actually could not stomach the moments Mark was mentioned. When Caoimhe said she heard Lizzie screaming at night....I wanted to scream "how many of those screams was her nightmares vs what Mark was actively doing to her in that moment???"
Hugh was such a godsend. I felt exhausted for him multiple times but he tried so hard. Harder than any young child should had to. Hugh and Claire was this angel sent from god for many people but especially for the ones who Marked hurt. If I kept writing this review, I'd be reviewing this whole book. So I will end it here but I need the next book to come out now so I can get either glimpses of Lizzie and Hugh or hopefully get the justice that Lizzie and Gibsie both badly deserve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy