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ashmalcom's review
dark
emotional
slow-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
3.75
I very much enjoyed this book but it felt like there were SO many false endings that it really started to feel frustrating. I enjoy a slow paced book but there were lots of scenes that I felt could be cut out without detracting from the story or characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Pregnancy
Three of the main characters are a closeted gay man, an adult man on the autism spectrum and a young woman. The three of these characters are in a marriage together in which absolutely no one is happy. The gay man is a villain here in a way, but does not lean on familiar tropes to do so. Woman is trapped in this marriage, desperate for genuine love, gay man refuses to allow divorce and is generally manipulative in order to remain married. Autistic man wants out but is not allowed by overbearing brother - is forced to have sex with woman in order to fulfill state-mandated child quota. Audiobook narrator uses kind of strange, affectless and overexaggerated tone of voice to voice ASD character - would definitely listen to a sample before buying if this might be triggering to you.