tanyapotocea 's review for:

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

4.25

mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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For the most part, The Safekeep explores family, ownership and obsession all intermingled into the disdain that the main character, Isabel, feels for her brother’s girlfriend, Eva. My interest was mostly piqued by the author’s exploration of the post-World War II Netherlands, which picks up significantly later in the novel. The dialogue felt very real, and I truly enjoyed how multi-dimensional all the characters are, and how they change throughout the story. The descriptions of summer in Zwolle and Isabel’s house were breathtaking. A beautiful, yet desolating read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia

Minor: Alcohol