A review by kizzia
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is a really well written book with a strong premise and gripping characters that is, for me, completely let down by the ending. The MC may be in a different place physically and have more knowledge but the emotional journey failed utterly. 

If you value “realism” in your endings then you’ll probably be absolutely fine with it but I am not. When the only two people who get “satisfactory” endings are a)

an abusive man

and b) a character who isn’t even mentioned until the last quarter of the book and the longest amount written about them is the final page (which feels like it got added when the editor went “you need something positive to finish with”) then it might need to be marketed a way that gives a more solid impression that, never mind happy, the ending you’re going to get isn’t even good.