MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD
Normally I give books that others have reviewed well but are clearly not the right kind of book for me at least three stars because they at least accomplish what they set out to do, even if I question the point of doing it. The book, however…. I can’t. First, I don’t know what it wants to do. Second, it feels like trauma/misery porn, mostly not in a way that’s useful. Third, the unrelenting sexism goes way beyond acknowledging a period specific reality. I don’t know why it’s so constant. There is no good reason for it. Add to the the absolutely terrible pacing and general lack of purpose to things like parallels between characters, I’m not sure the book even deserves two stars by my usual rating system. There are moments where the writing is good enough to justify the extra star, though. I can’t imagine recommending it to anyone.