Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Mrs. S

April book club read! (Sam, please don’t hate me for this review, I still love you 🫶) I’ll be the first to admit that I struggle through slow reads, so that definitely contributed to my lack of interest in this book until about halfway through. It picked up pace for me when things heated up (and boy, did they heat up) but I still found the characters really unlikable, despite the fact that I had every reason to find them relatable (this does not include the Housemistress, that’s my GIRL). That being said, what I DID love about this book is that it’s quite possibly the gayest book I’ve ever read (said with much enthusiasm). Also, the power imbalance between the love interests left an icky taste in my mouth at times, making it difficult to appreciate the romance. While I have my qualms with this one, it’s still worth a read for anyone who loves queer literature 😌

Content Warnings

jennaz's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Quite a good read. Enjoyed the writing style, it was unique yet still smooth and easy to get through (besides the lack of quotation marks - that always causes some confusion for me). Wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt, but it definitely held a (to me, positive) plot twist. Feel like it showed growth in the main character that I honestly didn’t expect. I loved how deep of a look we got of the main character, constant inner dialogue and often relatable thoughts. Kind of gives similar vibes to movie aesthetics like Normal People. To me at least.

Diversity-wise, clearly a lesbian romance, with one main character also being gender-questioning and/or masculine-presenting and/or butch. Also appreciated the depiction of a positive lgbtq+ friendship shown throughout, but no descriptions gave way of any races besides white, so a bit euro-centric. Therefore “it’s complicated” for diversity.

Also wish the author had the main character introspect / probe Mrs. S more about the sudden yet brief scene of catching two of The Girls kissing. It clearly had a large affect on her as someone who must hide their queerness, and Mrs. S’ reaction was disappointing considering her usual demeanor towards The Girls and her own recent sexual awakening (not super recent, as she mentioned experimenting before in college, but this time declared it love) - it makes sense how she reacted, being that she clearly had internalized homophobia and was confused and frustrated with herself so didn’t know how to even respond to the girls, but would’ve liked to see more character growth from Mrs. S, overall, looking back. But, I didn’t expect it since the end has the main character leave and it’s a book following her internal dialogue more than anything

Content Warnings

bronzeageholly's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“If I could choose a different chest I would choose this water. If I could choose a different body I would choose this water”

This beautiful book felt like dipping into someone’s mind, like slipping off the edge of a pool and finding it’s deeper than you thought.

The tension, the longing, the summer heat. Mrs S is a sensual, delicious dive into sexuality and gender, into watching and being watched, into what it’s like to live in your own or other people’s ‘natural’.

The themes of performance and of nature (with key motifs of water, earth, the moon) were carefully and clearly positioned throughout the text: each with transformative powers poignant to the metamorphosis of the protagonist. Through the main character’s observations of light and scent we understand how they view the world and the actions of others. Each relationship formed was palpable, with moments of humour just as precious as the moments of drama.

There was something deeply personal and deeply reflective about this text that I could not demand loudly enough that everyone reads this book.

((definitely an 18+ read!))

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