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kayleigh_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
2.0
So I started reading Sarah Dessen when I was a teenager and I've basically made it my mission to eventually read all her books. I decided to read this because it was short and I knew Sarah Dessen books were light, fluffy, contemporaries and that's exactly what I was looking for. If you are going to read this don't just assume everything she writes is light and fluffy because this certainly was not.
Personally I just don't think this book was for me. I feel like some of the problem could have been because I truly wasn't expecting what I got from this book. That's completely a me problem and that's on me for not doing my research. Sarah Dessen did a really good job writing the story but I just feel like she should stick to her usual. She really made me like Rogerson before everything changed and I'm hoping that was was the intention. I'm not saying you can never branch out but it just seemed weird coming from her.
My big problem with this book was that this is a book where the main plot is Caitlin being in an abusive relationship and it takes more than half of the book for that to develop. You could argue that she was building up to it and there were subtle things in the beginning but I just didn't see them. I was so bored waiting for the main plot to happen and honestly I thought about DNFing multiple times. Also the abusive relationship felt like it came straight out of left field. It just seemed like Rogerson flipped a switch and it didn't make any sense. I know that this is sometimes the case and maybe that's what we were going for and it was supposed to be like that or maybe once again I missed subtle things in the beginning that would of made it make more sense but I just didn't like it.
This is also one of Sarah Dessen's earlier works and I think that I just prefer her newer books to the older things she has. From what I remember of the books that I've read from her I've enjoyed her newer books a lot more than any of her other books.
Personally I just don't think this book was for me. I feel like some of the problem could have been because I truly wasn't expecting what I got from this book. That's completely a me problem and that's on me for not doing my research. Sarah Dessen did a really good job writing the story but I just feel like she should stick to her usual. She really made me like Rogerson before everything changed and I'm hoping that was was the intention. I'm not saying you can never branch out but it just seemed weird coming from her.
My big problem with this book was that this is a book where the main plot is Caitlin being in an abusive relationship and it takes more than half of the book for that to develop. You could argue that she was building up to it and there were subtle things in the beginning but I just didn't see them. I was so bored waiting for the main plot to happen and honestly I thought about DNFing multiple times. Also the abusive relationship felt like it came straight out of left field. It just seemed like Rogerson flipped a switch and it didn't make any sense. I know that this is sometimes the case and maybe that's what we were going for and it was supposed to be like that or maybe once again I missed subtle things in the beginning that would of made it make more sense but I just didn't like it.
This is also one of Sarah Dessen's earlier works and I think that I just prefer her newer books to the older things she has. From what I remember of the books that I've read from her I've enjoyed her newer books a lot more than any of her other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
whatchareadingheather's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.5
This was a re-read and it was a wild ride looking back at my younger self’s reading taste. I can definitely see how a certain TikTok famous author is huge if you were a loyal reader of Dessen in your younger years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
jessyschae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Trigger warning of physical abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Grief
lpriebe26's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
gracegooglymoogly's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is the saddest Dessen book. I read it in a three-day span, and, although I knew it was a harsh book about abuse, it was still striking to me when the abuse started. The picture Dessen paints of the life the protagonist spirals down into is nightmarishly eye-opening. It's candy-coated, but a scary time, especially in hindsight.
This book also wins points with me in terms of the parents. I feel like most of the parents in Dessen's books end up becoming a necessary conflict by the end of the second act--seemingly out of nowhere. In this, the issue with the parents is foundational from the get-go, and is subtle, which makes the ending that more rewarding. Also, the juxtaposition of Caitlin's relationship with Rogerson to her mother's relationship with Cass is also just *chef's kiss*.
Please read this.
This book also wins points with me in terms of the parents. I feel like most of the parents in Dessen's books end up becoming a necessary conflict by the end of the second act--seemingly out of nowhere. In this, the issue with the parents is foundational from the get-go, and is subtle, which makes the ending that more rewarding. Also, the juxtaposition of Caitlin's relationship with Rogerson to her mother's relationship with Cass is also just *chef's kiss*.
Please read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Drug abuse
emi_oz's review against another edition
Sarah Dessen is a great author, and I love her books. I stopped reading because of content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
jackiepreston's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Drug use
kat_rowlen's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Easy read nothing to complex but nothing super memorable either
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
pugluver11's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
I thought this book was a good, but difficult read. Seeing Caitlyn lose her identity as her relationship with Rogerson progressed was upsetting. You really see how she becomes a shell of herself as she tries to fit into the mold that Rogerson wants her to be. I liked how the different sections showed her taking on new identities throughout the story. In the beginning, she used Cassie to form her identity, then Rogerson, and in the end, she started to figure out her own identity. In my opinion, Sarah did a good job of not romanticizing the abuse that Caitlyn suffered. Those scenes were truly disturbing to read. I was worried that this was going to read like a romance, but it definitely didn't. The author did a great job of contrasting the "romantic" highs of the relationship with the abusive lows. I typically enjoy Sarah's books, and this one's no exception! I just can't take the name Rogerson seriously! I literally loled when I read that name for the first time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual content
kriee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Eating disorder and Fatphobia