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riverestyx's reviews
43 reviews
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Dementia, Death of parent
Minor: Cursing
3.0
This book is heavily rooted in privileged, NYC, upper middle class narratives which makes sense given who Abigail is. I'm glad that other Jews have access to culture like that. It's just harder to translate that into something for those who don't.
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Hail Mary's and blessing themselves dragged on me a bit but the main character is a nun after all.
Sister Holiday said at one point that nuns create vivid inner worlds and as a result, we got a lot of descriptions (which I enjoyed). I found Sister Holiday and her motivations interesting and the cop characters were detestable, as they should be.
Could do with more reckoning with being queer and being the Catholic Institution but the fires were understandably pressing. It was touched on but not gone into.
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The last 3rd of the book just didn't have the umph behind it that the first 2/3rds did. This is why the message behind the story fell flat as well.
I can't quite pin what the message of the story was because it wasn't given any meat. I think Hawkins was going for a commentary on power corrupting or the importance of keeping your humanity. Both of which would work really well with the story!
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Car accident, War
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Dysphoria
Moderate: Eating disorder, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
I was really excited when I found out about this book. I really enjoy baseball and, while I'm not a Phillies Phan, I love the city. I've never been a big romance reader but a sports romance sounded great. I even devoured this book. Finishing it in 9 days despite a taxing move and working 2 jobs.
That said, it did not quite live up to expectations.
I am very glad that the player names are changing. I know K loves the Phillies and it does show but the way initials, names, and/or nicknames lined up with current Phillies felt like a bad fanfic vibe (and this is not me ragging on fanfics or their writers, I swear). More clarification of whose POV we were in at the beginning of each chapter would have been helpful.
I did really enjoy the storyline and the romance but the language used around the sex/sex scenes was more erotica. There is nothing inherently wrong with the language and writing style of the sex/sex scenes, it just does not match the sweet romance that was the rest of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the book well enough and I'm interested in the idea for the second book. If/when the second book happens I'll read it.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: War