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perfectcupoftea'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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Forced institutionalization
evolvingskye's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Gore, and Blood
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Death of parent
stacemake's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
jesikakaley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
eclipsingyou's review
- 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
3.5
Unfortunately a few things weren’t quite landing for me and I still don’t really know what it was - I enjoyed the plot to an extent and everytime i picked up the book I was waddling through fine, but it took me soooo long to actually push myself to finish it. This was meant to be a halloween read and I’m only finishing it now mid-December. I think I was just univested and the story felt like it wavered in too many directions. ALSO!!! absolutely fucking hated the whole cactus thing. I get it, horror should be gross and disturbing and we should be appalled by the actions of the group and the treatment/ownership of women’s bodies but yuck.
Negatives out of the way, I thought this was a great horror. So many times throughout I found myself flinching and making disgusted faces at the descriptive writing. I very often enjoy an unreliable narrator (especially when we’re aware of how whacko they are from the get-go) and it made it engaging trying to figure out what the fuck was going on with Mary pre-reveal
Thought the ending was great also and locked in for the last 30% in one sitting.
Ngl, I was feeling a little hmmm-ish about a man writing on such woman centred topics of menopause, female aging, societal views on women, etc. but it seemed very well researched and the afterword actually delves in on the author’s own discussion of his place and I liked that.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
himpersonal's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If I could, I would teach this book as part of a college-level women's studies or feminism class. There is so much symbolism all over the book, including the obvious, like the mirrors, the furies, the ants, the hot flashes, her Loved Ones, etc. I gave Mary and Nat an imaginary chest-bump every time she seethed against being called crazy. And I enjoyed rooting for and watching Mary transform from a nobody (not even she gave herself any consideration) to someone who is on the cusp of extraordinary. Her rage is what drives her, and she didn't even know she had any until she had to use it. I have so much optimism for Mary's future.
The afterword was worth sticking around for. I can't believe Cassidy started this book at age 13. Brilliant. Thank you for speaking on behalf of every woman who has ever been medically gaslit and/or subjected to male doctors who were dismissive of our pain. Thank you for celebrating all the invisible and overlooked women who were put out to pasture. Thank you for being a wonderful ally against the ageism women face, should we be lucky enough to live long enough to have to deal with it.
This was my first Cassidy book. I really look forward to getting to know more of this writer's works.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
sapphirestars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, and Death of parent
nunparasite's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Sometimes it felt like it's messaging was too heavy-handed, as if lacking faith in the reader, but I suppose it's understandable considering the subject matters (and the author afterword).
Overall, really don't regret picking up this book and I can't wait to recommend it to fellow horror fans.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
disguisedposer's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
virgcole398's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Excrement, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Chronic illness, Racism, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Death of parent