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purplepenning 's review for:
A Holly Jolly Ever After
by Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
There are no good variables to work with when the answer to the equation is other peoples' idea of perfection.
Another one where I liked the previous book in the series, liked the main and side characters, liked much of what was being addressed, but still didn't love the story or execution. Le sigh.
There's no age when people stop learning about their bodies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury
A note about the sexual content: features a sexual awakening and admirably frank language and scenes of exploration as a character deprograms from the learned shame and inhibitions of purity culture
Other content notes: in addition to the unplanned pregnancy trope, there's a miscarriage scare that opens the door for toxic religious parents to try to regain a foothold in a main characters life