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stephshoff88's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
cjmarie28's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
asmittenreader's review against another edition
4.0
First of all, let me say that I was listening to this via audiobook on Libby, and for the first like 30%, I had no idea this was an origin / throwback. The prologue/preface was not read on the audiobook. I had to do some googling. So the audiobook let me down a bit initially.
As soon as I was fully aware of the timeline jump, I restarted the book and went back in.
This book made me so friggin ANGRY!!!
The way that these children were treated is deplorable. I was so sad for most of this entire story.
It explains SO MUCH, but I am so upset about the whole thing.
Billy, as a teenager, stepped up to be the man of the house. His daddy was a deadbeat and a part of the local gang. He cheated on & beat his wife, the boys' mama. He had to grow up much faster than any 16 y/o should. The world weighs a lot, and Billy carried it.
Scarlett, as a teenager, literally had to run away from home. She is the daughter of one of the gang leaders whose nickname was Razor, and he used his razor as a form of punishment, even on his daughter. She was hurt a lot.
She carried so much pain & and sorrow while also trying to just be positive & good to those around her.
She built a camp behind Winston's property. Billy & their mama would feed her by leaving plates of food outside. Numerous times, Billy would bring her inside to wash her clothes & let her clean up. Towards the end, he asked her to just sleep inside.
The fact that Scarlett had to run away to be safe from her own father is heartbreaking.
The fact that Billy sacrificed himself to pay for her debt to the gang and ensure her safety was also just so sad.
They both lost so much in this story.
I just can't wait to see all that they gained in the next
As soon as I was fully aware of the timeline jump, I restarted the book and went back in.
This book made me so friggin ANGRY!!!
The way that these children were treated is deplorable. I was so sad for most of this entire story.
It explains SO MUCH, but I am so upset about the whole thing.
Billy, as a teenager, stepped up to be the man of the house. His daddy was a deadbeat and a part of the local gang. He cheated on & beat his wife, the boys' mama. He had to grow up much faster than any 16 y/o should. The world weighs a lot, and Billy carried it.
Scarlett, as a teenager, literally had to run away from home. She is the daughter of one of the gang leaders whose nickname was Razor, and he used his razor as a form of punishment, even on his daughter. She was hurt a lot.
She carried so much pain & and sorrow while also trying to just be positive & good to those around her.
She built a camp behind Winston's property. Billy & their mama would feed her by leaving plates of food outside. Numerous times, Billy would bring her inside to wash her clothes & let her clean up. Towards the end, he asked her to just sleep inside.
The fact that Scarlett had to run away to be safe from her own father is heartbreaking.
The fact that Billy sacrificed himself to pay for her debt to the gang and ensure her safety was also just so sad.
They both lost so much in this story.
I just can't wait to see all that they gained in the next
emilyferrise's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Wow, this book. First, definitely read the Foreward from the author about trigger warnings. Her description of this book being a tragic love story is completely accurate (I mean duh, Emily…she wrote the book, so of course she can describe it). I’ve not read Beard Necessities yet, but I’m so happy to have this backstory going into it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Torture, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Cursing
yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
Tragic, heartbreaking, tear jerking, story of the horror of Scarlet, Billy and Cletus. Children of dangerous men trapped in their horrendous world. In all this darkness there is a love so strong, so willing to sacrifice everything. I guarantee you'll be crying
londibie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book blew my mind. The amount of ground work that went into this. There were threads in every book leading up to this, where something happened in those books that were directly influenced by something that happened years earlier in this book. This gave context to literally EVERY book in the series so far and my happy little heart gobbled it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
"If the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts, then my soul was Scarlet."
I absolutely loved this book.I have to keep putting it down so it lasts longer.
The family dynamic feels so authentic, the strong love they have for each is so obvious.
Scarlet ok wow.. so strong and stubborn, but so vulnerable I just wanted to hug her.
Billy. Gah. I loved him. BEST BROTHER my heart literally hurts for him.
Scarlet and Billy... angsty slow burn exllecance. I loved their past, the banter, how their friendship and relationship progressed. No one deserves a happy ending more than the two of them.
It was paced well. And written well. And all around AMAZING! Seriously, can you tell how much I loved this book?!?
I absolutely loved this book.I have to keep putting it down so it lasts longer.
The family dynamic feels so authentic, the strong love they have for each is so obvious.
Scarlet ok wow.. so strong and stubborn, but so vulnerable I just wanted to hug her.
Billy. Gah. I loved him. BEST BROTHER my heart literally hurts for him.
Scarlet and Billy... angsty slow burn exllecance. I loved their past, the banter, how their friendship and relationship progressed. No one deserves a happy ending more than the two of them.
It was paced well. And written well. And all around AMAZING! Seriously, can you tell how much I loved this book?!?
jwaite's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jschloemer's review against another edition
5.0
Moving and Fabulous
Moving and fabulous. I loved reading this origin story because it answered so many questions. I was nervous due to the trigger warnings but it was so well done with no unnecessary details that it just made me feel even more for these characters that have become so real. Well done Penny Reid!!
Moving and fabulous. I loved reading this origin story because it answered so many questions. I was nervous due to the trigger warnings but it was so well done with no unnecessary details that it just made me feel even more for these characters that have become so real. Well done Penny Reid!!