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siirikukkasniemi 's review for:
Releasing 10
by Chloe Walsh
now that you can finally review this: this book has been one of the most difficult and surprising reads of the year for me and not because I didn’t like it, but because it hit close to home in ways I wasn’t fully prepared for.
first, I do want to acknowledge that the book has sparked a lot of discourse online, and I understand why. the content is incredibly heavy and, at times very graphic, especially when it comes to the abuse and mental illness. these themes are not for everyone, and it’s absolutely valid that many readers have chosen to disengage because of how the book made them feel.
with that said, my experience has been different. I found parts of this story heartbreakingly familiar and relatable. I saw pieces of myself in certain characters in the first half of the book, and later, in others. in typical BOT style, the happy moments were really happy, and the sad moments were really sad.
the book is dedicated to survivors, and as one, I felt very seen. not in a surface level way, but in a way that captured emotions I’ve carried for years and never had the words for. reading parts of this story felt painful and healing and awful at once.
now, that doesn’t mean I think this book is perfect, because it isn’t. I think the graphic scenes could’ve been handled with much more restraint. I now understand why Chloe chose to depict them in such vivid detail after her statement, but obviously it was hard to read, especially when T7 delivered the same backstory with far less. I know these are topics that we need to talk about more of and Chloe has never shyed away from intense and difficult topics, but some scenes were a bit hard to stomach, specifically in the scenes around young Lizzie and Mark.
I also struggled with the emotional maturity of the characters, especially as children. I had to remind myself that some scenes were happening when characters were only six, yet their inner monologues read more like late teens. it pulled me out of the story more than once. there were also plot holes and inconsistencies (gibsie’s letter, caoimhe etc) that made the book feel a bit disconnected from earlier parts of the series. since finishing I’ve started my reread of T7 and those inconsistencies have become much more apparent.
about Lizzie: I don’t view this as her redemption arc. for me, it wasn’t about excusing her past behavior but understanding the why behind it. that doesn’t make the things she did okay but it just gives it context, and that’s an important distinction. I think there’s a lot more for us to see but I do ultimately hope she gets her happy ending as well. I feel for her and I’m rooting for her.
about Hugh: what an angel of a boy. the most caring, pure, sweetest guy around it seems. however, I wish someone would’ve protected him in all of this too. he was also just a kid and no adult should lean on a child like that. I understand his connection and protectiveness over Lizzie but I just felt like the boundaries were so blurred. in the end, as much as it pained me to see him and Lizzie so sad and ”moving on” from each other, I really loved that he was being cared for in a healthy way, despite him intially feeling uncomfortable with the stable relationship.
it wasn’t an “easy” or traditionally enjoyable read but it was impactful and it made me think, cry and reflect. also I have to mention, the last chapter broke my heart into a million pieces. they both deserve so much and I hope to see them happy in the future. I’m rooting for all of them.
everyone processes books like this differently, and that’s okay. if this book wasn’t for you, I completely understand. if it meant something to you, I see you. either way, let’s keep creating space for stories and survivors with compassion ❤️
first, I do want to acknowledge that the book has sparked a lot of discourse online, and I understand why. the content is incredibly heavy and, at times very graphic, especially when it comes to the abuse and mental illness. these themes are not for everyone, and it’s absolutely valid that many readers have chosen to disengage because of how the book made them feel.
with that said, my experience has been different. I found parts of this story heartbreakingly familiar and relatable. I saw pieces of myself in certain characters in the first half of the book, and later, in others. in typical BOT style, the happy moments were really happy, and the sad moments were really sad.
the book is dedicated to survivors, and as one, I felt very seen. not in a surface level way, but in a way that captured emotions I’ve carried for years and never had the words for. reading parts of this story felt painful and healing and awful at once.
now, that doesn’t mean I think this book is perfect, because it isn’t. I think the graphic scenes could’ve been handled with much more restraint. I now understand why Chloe chose to depict them in such vivid detail after her statement, but obviously it was hard to read, especially when T7 delivered the same backstory with far less. I know these are topics that we need to talk about more of and Chloe has never shyed away from intense and difficult topics, but some scenes were a bit hard to stomach, specifically in the scenes around young Lizzie and Mark.
I also struggled with the emotional maturity of the characters, especially as children. I had to remind myself that some scenes were happening when characters were only six, yet their inner monologues read more like late teens. it pulled me out of the story more than once. there were also plot holes and inconsistencies (gibsie’s letter, caoimhe etc) that made the book feel a bit disconnected from earlier parts of the series. since finishing I’ve started my reread of T7 and those inconsistencies have become much more apparent.
about Lizzie: I don’t view this as her redemption arc. for me, it wasn’t about excusing her past behavior but understanding the why behind it. that doesn’t make the things she did okay but it just gives it context, and that’s an important distinction. I think there’s a lot more for us to see but I do ultimately hope she gets her happy ending as well. I feel for her and I’m rooting for her.
about Hugh: what an angel of a boy. the most caring, pure, sweetest guy around it seems. however, I wish someone would’ve protected him in all of this too. he was also just a kid and no adult should lean on a child like that. I understand his connection and protectiveness over Lizzie but I just felt like the boundaries were so blurred. in the end, as much as it pained me to see him and Lizzie so sad and ”moving on” from each other, I really loved that he was being cared for in a healthy way, despite him intially feeling uncomfortable with the stable relationship.
it wasn’t an “easy” or traditionally enjoyable read but it was impactful and it made me think, cry and reflect. also I have to mention, the last chapter broke my heart into a million pieces. they both deserve so much and I hope to see them happy in the future. I’m rooting for all of them.
everyone processes books like this differently, and that’s okay. if this book wasn’t for you, I completely understand. if it meant something to you, I see you. either way, let’s keep creating space for stories and survivors with compassion ❤️