Reviews

When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff

sheliaalessandria's review

dark sad slow-paced

• 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? No

3.0

I really liked the plot. I just struggled with Cassie. I figured out early on what it was but I still kept finding myself thinking she was a tad self centered. Overall the book was okay. Great plot but we all know the ending. Plus, there were quite a few typos that I noticed. 

lydiahollern's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• 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

2.0

mdelguercio's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

sleepysloth's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• 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

2.0

laura_corsi's review

4.0

This book is not about what you think it's about. It is not the story of Billy who is accused of rape by his girlfriend. It is not a story about his wealthy family and the privileged world that they live in and the many doors that wealth opens and the many sins that wealth covers. These things exist in this story, but it is not what the story is about. I was blown away by Medoff's unlikable characters and the psychological portrait that she draws of them. I did see the twist coming, as I think the author intends given the foreshadowing--what I did not see coming was the way she perfectly shows the psychology of an abuse victim--even at the end there is no conclusive ending.

kristinalh's review

3.0

This was a decent read. A crime is committed and the story is about finding the truth, as well as the trial. During which another travesty is unearthed.

bellahtrix's review

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

erinbrook's review

Oof. Beautiful written and hard to read.

Also im convinced that the most people on here think if a contemporary book isn't romance, then it's got to be thriller. Lol. This is actually a mostly family drama/ courtroom novel.

shaughnp's review

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

kberman20's review

challenging sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

not sure how I feel about this one. Felt like the child sexual assault was brushed over along with how serious his crimes were due to the focus being on Billy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism and Addiction