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mackiimoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not a huge fan of the last chunk of the book - everything post
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
veepopp'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
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexism, and Kidnapping
Minor: Ableism and Drug use
sexpest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This book was definitely interesting. I loved a lot of it: the description of some feelings, the dialogue, the sociological thinking sewn in through the fictional text. But there's also a lot I did not like one bit! I found Joan a tough character to root for. I definitely felt sorry for her, especially as more of her childhood was uncovered, but it was hard to really want her to do better because of the lack of information we as the reader had. It felt very shallow and unnuanced. Her hatred for men and patriarchal thinking read very limited, almost like she didn't know exactly how her own actions were hurting her most in connection to the way men treated her (i.e. the concept of "everyday rapes" that women put up with. This was a fascinating concept through a sociological lens, and I wished that Joan had felt more about it than complete resentment for men while still actively participating in it herself without any disdain for herself. And if there was disdain, it would not be as nearly volatile as it was for the male counterpart).
I think this kind of writing for a main character would work if she was presented as more of an angry person rather than quiet and docile. I wanted more emotion from her: she read very flat. Yes she would cry, and yes she would feel rage, but I think I wanted to see those emotions explode rather than just having them. If Joan had been more of a reactive person, it might have made more sense that would later murder someone.
I don't know if I'm simply just reading too much into it, but while this book did bring up a lot of interesting points and theories, I feel as if the feminist lens it was trying to be presented through was not revolutionary, but rather one that was surface-level and easily-digestible (wh*te woman feminism). It made me feel similar to the movie Promising Young Woman at times, with the way that it kind of romanticized payback for systemic, violent misogyny that just ended up with the main character being violated over again (I would rate that movie a fucking zero by the way - do not watch it!)
Again, this isn't to say that it was a bad book. The pacing wasn't too bad and the character descriptions were also very imaginative. I thought it was a cool mystery trying to find out who Joan was "writing" this for, and the end was more satisfying than most of the other ends of chapters throughout.
Another warning for triggers: mentions of child abuse, child sexual assault, rape, death of parents, death of a child, difficult pregnancies. It's definitely not a book that shies away from the realities of a lot if not all, women. I think it could have been more relatable if there wasn't so much going on in it (cheating husbands who kill themselves in front of their mistress in a packed restaurant isn't something that is exactly relatable...). Though I wouldn't recommend it, I don't think I would exactly deter someone from reading it. It just simply wasn't for me!
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide attempt
lovelylilelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
boywithtoothache's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
campirebat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Murder
n0e11e0000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Stalking, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Vomit, and War
ienbdri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
charvermont's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
greyyy'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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment