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born_reading's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
, rape,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Incest, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Rape, Violence, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Death of parent, Cursing, and Adult/minor relationship
meghanmccall's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Incest
pollyhall's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Deportation, Drug use, Grief, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Rape
iamkateness's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Incest
sarahc_v's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.25
Strong content warning for rape, sexual assault, and relationship with a minor. The major plot of the book is of a rape trial.
I completely agree with another review that said you will either enjoy this book or absolutely hate it. I fell into the enjoy it camp - I read it upon the strong recommendation/review from a booktuber who had enjoyed it. It’d been a while since listening to her review, so all I remembered about the book was that a rich girls brother got accused of rape but she has also been a victim. Knowing that info, I knew from the start that we had an unreliable narrator in Cassie and that someone in her family was her abuser, but I wasn’t sure who (and my initial guess turned out to be wrong). The characters are all despicable, but in a way that makes for a thought-provoking story about the ways that class and wealth impact lives and the ways that they impact trauma as well. I found this to be a really provocative read and would recommend it to those who are able to handle the topic at hand, however I fully understand that this is too difficult of a topic (especially the constant doubting of Diana and defense of Billy) for many many people to read about.
One final thought - ACAB, but Hagerty was an important character to the story and I am glad for the healing and realizations that he brought to Cassie.
I completely agree with another review that said you will either enjoy this book or absolutely hate it. I fell into the enjoy it camp - I read it upon the strong recommendation/review from a booktuber who had enjoyed it. It’d been a while since listening to her review, so all I remembered about the book was that a rich girls brother got accused of rape but she has also been a victim. Knowing that info, I knew from the start that we had an unreliable narrator in Cassie and that someone in her family was her abuser, but I wasn’t sure who (and my initial guess turned out to be wrong). The characters are all despicable, but in a way that makes for a thought-provoking story about the ways that class and wealth impact lives and the ways that they impact trauma as well. I found this to be a really provocative read and would recommend it to those who are able to handle the topic at hand, however I fully understand that this is too difficult of a topic (especially the constant doubting of Diana and defense of Billy) for many many people to read about.
One final thought - ACAB, but Hagerty was an important character to the story and I am glad for the healing and realizations that he brought to Cassie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Incest
The major plot of the book follows a rape trial, where there is a strong defense for the rapist and moral questioning/doubt of the victim. There is also graphic descriptions of a relationship of a minor (the narrator in flashback) with someone much older, who we later find out isjennastopreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Incest, Emotional abuse, Rape, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
marpaige's review
challenging
dark
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
ktdakotareads's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
ccard0223's review
dark
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
1.0
The first half of the book was intriguing. Although I hated (actually hated) all of the characters and could not relate to anyone, I was intrigued by the rape case. However, the second half of the book made me loathe every sentence. <spolier> The reveal that Marcus was actually Lawrence was so sloppy I could scream. So the entire family knows that there is an incestual relationship going on, but still begs Cassie to return to the home of her abuser time and time again? Nate is constantly making comments about how Cassie is never there to go over the case, etc etc KNOWING that his FATHER is obsessed with his sister? And Haggerty- the detective. His "#timesup #metoo" text at the trial made me want to rage. You, sir, do not get to out someone's abuser and then claim #metoo FOR that victim. The entire trial felt like it was written by someone that has never seen the inside of a courtroom. It was maddening. And to make matters even worse, when Cassie finally figured out that yes, Ben was a rapist, the family just continues living their high life and pretending everything is fine. They are ok to throw Lawrence under the proverbial bus, but not Ben??? A violent rapist who got away with it only because his father's incestual relationship came out at his trial? GROSS. <spolier>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Classism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Gaslighting
deagaric's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
Yikes, I had mixed feelings about this book. The first 2/3rds really made my skin crawl. I completely understand that the characters might be intentionally unlikable, but the comments about 1) building staff being considered as "not people", 2) calling black employees "brother", 3) making multiple comments along the lines off "society is just gunning for white males" (???), and so on and so forth really made this book difficult to get into.
On top of that, Cassie heavily sexualizes her own brothers to the point that I do not understand why those parts were included. She describes how "sun beams off her brother's chest, making him look like a Greek God", and how she leans her head on her other brothers chest in bed while he's only "wearing boxers." What kind of bizarre sibling closeness is this. She even sexualizes a physical, scary fight she had with her younger brother.
As you all know from the abstract, one her brothers has been accused of a brutal rape incident, and is now on trial. Cassie, naturally, does everything she can to help her brothers case. Along the way, she does everything wrong, which drove me mad with frustration. "Do not talk to any media , reporters, or investigators without a lawyer present." Easy enough. Nope, Cassie does a 3 hour private interview on her own in her apartment. "Dress demure for court--" Cassie rips off her sweater and unbuttons her shit in court "because let them look." Then is shocked when her family is angry with her.
All of that being said, Cassie's aggravating personality almost makes sense given her toxic upbringing. She was raised in an adopted family full of infuriating people. Her dad is a millionaire who is blatantly ignorant and makes racist and classist comments, her older brother is jerk with a bad temper and zero ambition, her younger brother has ambition but also has a bad temper and is, most importantly, an accused rapist. So I'll cut Cassie some slack.
Either way, the book picks up by the final third. In Part III, we finally get to the court case itself and all of these flaws are brought to light. Minor character growth happens, resolutions arise, and things wrap up. It actually started having many twists and turns (some of them deeply disturbing) and becomes more of an engaging read. Solid 3/5 for me.
On top of that, Cassie heavily sexualizes her own brothers to the point that I do not understand why those parts were included. She describes how "sun beams off her brother's chest, making him look like a Greek God", and how she leans her head on her other brothers chest in bed while he's only "wearing boxers." What kind of bizarre sibling closeness is this. She even sexualizes a physical, scary fight she had with her younger brother.
As you all know from the abstract, one her brothers has been accused of a brutal rape incident, and is now on trial. Cassie, naturally, does everything she can to help her brothers case. Along the way, she does everything wrong, which drove me mad with frustration. "Do not talk to any media , reporters, or investigators without a lawyer present." Easy enough. Nope, Cassie does a 3 hour private interview on her own in her apartment. "Dress demure for court--" Cassie rips off her sweater and unbuttons her shit in court "because let them look." Then is shocked when her family is angry with her.
All of that being said, Cassie's aggravating personality almost makes sense given her toxic upbringing. She was raised in an adopted family full of infuriating people. Her dad is a millionaire who is blatantly ignorant and makes racist and classist comments, her older brother is jerk with a bad temper and zero ambition, her younger brother has ambition but also has a bad temper and is, most importantly, an accused rapist. So I'll cut Cassie some slack.
Either way, the book picks up by the final third. In Part III, we finally get to the court case itself and all of these flaws are brought to light. Minor character growth happens, resolutions arise, and things wrap up. It actually started having many twists and turns (some of them deeply disturbing) and becomes more of an engaging read. Solid 3/5 for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Incest
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, and Sexual harassment