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jj_99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
harleyburch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The prose wasn't special. There wasn't much plot. The allusive segments telling the story of the past would have been better aided by being fleshed out more. All of the characters were pretty faceless. The literary allusions didn't add much to the atmosphere, felt much more like a grasp at sophistication which didn't work nor was necessary. HOWEVER: the relationships between parents and their children, the past and the present, and relationships generally alongside the slow spiralling of dismal situations made for a somewhat enjoyable fast-paced reading experience. Like I said, I felt it wasn't worth looking at but I couldn't look away. Therefore, it deserves merit for its ability to entertain. Not much more beyond that though.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, and Death
bootrat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia
bek_p87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia and Death of parent
emmarose91's review against another edition
2.0
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death
britt_zonnebloempit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Disgustingly predatory. I hate men.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Suicide
em_daydreaming's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death
Minor: Eating disorder, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Narrated by Alix Dunmore
Unabridged
This was haunting and unexpectedly ... sensual... I don't know if that's the right word, exactly, but I wasn't expecting how much I'd be taken in with the beauty of the water and dense heat of summer compared to the innocent exploration of girlhood and how nostalgic that felt for me. Yet, in contrast, how this sweet and pure theme was manipulated in the present scenes and used to the advantage of an older and trusted character. It was uncomfortable but I couldn't stop reading.
In tone, this kind of gave me the Paper Palace vibes, and that makes me want to revisit that title because I had previously dnf'd it.
I loved how haunting the time period and season felt, which isn't a word I would usually use to describe summer and the 70s at all, but there was this whole heavy atmosphere that was rich in melancholy and the gothic and although it wasn't a thriller, there was such a dense layer of suspense and tension at every turn.
Depending on Maeve or Ruth's perspective, it was interesting how warped the mother or daughter's voice sounded to the perspective. As the reader, it was fascinating to see how the other viewed the others actions, justified their own, etc.
I feel like the fall out happened a bit too close to the end. I wanted the fall out to happen sooner so we could see more of the direct consequences span out, but I enjoyed that we got to see more long term scenarios, which felt like more closure than I was expecting.
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
larade's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
cole_louise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Cancer
Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and War