slimepuppy's reviews
121 reviews

Oh. Okay!

Interesting concept, clunky execution.

The characters are hollow and unlikable, the main character spends the entire book just confused and in this weird dream-like state that is just irksome to get through. The romance comes out of nowhere and gets no proper development - they have basically no reason to love each other so much, so quickly, yet they do - with maddening devotion. It feels forced and awkward, like most relationships the main character has.

The only things I liked were the setting - creepy house in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by woods is always a great setting, though I wish the house itself had been explored more, and Eli. I love a creepy guncle, and he was the only character allowed depth. Hooray.

Helen is not likeable or interesting, so when the twist was revelead I was suddenly rooting for the villains to just get it done with. 

Sure, they're monsters, but... so is she! It's weird to try and claim that she is just a pure innocent being, like the book so desperately tries to. The lack of nuance is staggering.

This book's ending was... a lot. Out of all possible outcomes, I truly didn't expect *that*, even if all the other twists were fairly predictable.

It was a quick, atmospheric read with a great setting and a genuinely creepy monster. Everything about that river is nightmare fuel. The characters were okay? I didn't fall in love with them, but they weren’t annoying either.

Despite liking the book, I'm still not sure about that ending, after the confrontation by the river the book just felt... rushed. None of the characters got endings that satifisfied me, Grace and Maeve specially.

I think I would have preferred Eden and Grace staying together at the bottom of the river, tragic as it would have been.

I cried so hard I felt sick.

The prose isn't exactly perfect and some things could have been done better ie have Gideon be more participative of the plot during the beginning of the trials - she spent a lot of time just... walking around lol.

But the dialogue ooooooh my god. Harrow in the pool scene has altered my brain chemistry permanently. The characters are interesting, all different in their own ways with distinct personalities and intricacies. The world building got a little confusing here and there, and we could have done with better exposition, but oh well. It was FUN.

PAIN :D

I want to hug Bruce Bechdel and then punch him bloody. Such a beautiful, touching account of queerness over time, never making excuses for her father's behavior while always treating him with grace and sensitivity, understanding the terrible situation they as a family were all in.

I am now worried about how much I related to this book and the writer's experiences. Good news is, if you're a lesbian dealing with isolation, loneliness and social anxiety, this book will show you how not alone you are. 

Just get ready to tear up a little.

It's cute! Wish I could get it for my niece.