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amanda_reads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is both a mystery about what happened to the kids and an exploration of misogyny in the 1970s. We get to see the treatment of women in not only various stages of life, but also various social economic standings. In this, she explores generational wealth, gender, and misogyny. She also explores the idea of class divide between the rich who summer here and the townies who live here year round. We get an insight into the differing treatment of the two groups. There's also the exploration of dysfunctional parent-child relationships as seen through many of the women in this story. This theme is weaved throughout every storyline in this book.
It was an interesting choice to set this in the '70s because we get two very different groups of women, those who are the older generation and are still controlled and gaslit by men and the younger generation who are fighting against that. We have characters like Barbara, Judy, and TJ who don't fit into the stereotypical role of" a woman" in the '70s. Then we have women like Louise and Alice who are still being controlled by the men in their lives. It's a very interesting dichotomy.
All this leads to a very interesting plot, that said, there's a lot of unnecessary storylines and information in this book that doesn't add to it. For example, we get Louise's story and a lot of information about her family, but this story doesn't lead anywhere. It just acts as a distraction. I get it serves to highlight the preferential treatment that the rich gets from the police, but we don't get a resolution, so why is it there? There's too many questions left unanswered about her. The same can be said for Tracy.
I have mixed feelings about the ending of this book. I think the resolution of Bear's story was anticlimactic.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
inirac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Transphobia, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
vireogirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
dub828king's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The most engaging parts of the story are the investigation surrounding the disappearance of the girl, but there is lot of plot dedicated to the back story of many of the character 15 years before this book takes place. These sections are more character focused with some investigative plot elements, and do a lot of heavy lifting setting up the major themes of the book, namely what is "Self Reliance," the despicableness of the wealthy, and the virtues of "the poor people." I think that this book maybe fetishizes the poor and downtrodden more than necessary, and the themes of wealth inequality are a little on the nose, making its message a little messy.
Overall, an engaging mystery read with some heavy handed class inequality messaging that gets to make fun of Emerson. I think this book would ever be interesting to reread due to the large number of small references, connections, and hidden information that is hidden from the reader the first time through.
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Blood
sapuri123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Classism
molly_rooney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Addiction and Abandonment
Not sure how to add this content warning but lost young children.flowchelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Self harm, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
kaliecameron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
trin_16's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Overall, it wasn't my cup of tea but it was a great, well-developed mystery with a twist you probably won't guess! Very cop-based
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
maestro_cerrotorcido's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol