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ellanarose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
decklededgess's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
The first five chapters of this book imply it's going to be a hilarious comedic romance instead it turns out to be a self discovery book revolving around an abusive relationship with hilarious elements that you feel bad for laughing at.
One point of contention in the plot is that a romantic partner is polyamorous and the main character has an issue with that. In certain situations it certainly could read as misrepresenting polyamorous relationships, maybe even villainizing. As an outsider to the community it didn't read as such because this was hundred percent more about the partner being a vile person when not getting their way instead of like...normalizing a poly relationship. Every subcommunity has their good and bad aspects and this book simply represents one of the bad aspects.
As long as you go into this book with the awareness that what is being represented isn't a reflection of the community as a whole or a statement on polyamory as a whole then you're good to go. It's well written, it's nuanced in its understanding of abusive relationships, and does a stellar job of indicating that the issue that is marked as "cheating" can be addressed by the MC advocating for her needs in her relationship (with the explicit understanding that the relationship is abusive and therefore there are some exceptions to conflict resolution here).
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence