Status Updates From Lemonade

Solid first chapter.
Second chapter is… tiresome. The author’s style changes somewhat when faced with a lengthier chapter, time jump and character changes. There’s infinitely more “tell than show” going on, which can make prose cumbersome and prevents you from becoming fully immersed.

Oh damn I see why this is divisive lmao

Christopher is a SCUMBAG. Needless to say, I’m enthralled.

Anna is so strong. She still tries to get out of the forced marriage with Chris. She tries to get Matthew's help. He feels guilty and shame but he is not able to betray Chris.

Thank god Chris got away from the man that bought him before anything happened. Matthew found him hiding in the park and begged his mom to take Chris in. I guess Chris was not sexually assaulted as a child? Why did he rape Anna as if he had some deep dark impulse caused by trauma?

Thankfully someone else guessed the rape, Nora found out right after the fact and Anna told her not to tell anyone else. Matthew, Chris' cousin, guessed it right immediately after meeting Anna and see her interaction with Chris. Matthew do feel a sense of guilt because Chris found out about Daniel's and Anna's engagement through Matthew. At least Matthew is a decent enough person and seems to know Chris' past.

Something about the rape being where she used to play with Lucy makes it even more heartbreaking. Her innocent taken from her by this abusive man who she played psychological games without knowing how dangerous he is. It is her personality that she is sarcastic and use dark humor a lot especially with Lucy and Daniels. Who knew this is what put Chris on edge?

Chris' brutal rape of Anna is so descriptive and well-written (after hearing she was going to marry Daniels). My heart breaks for Anna, but also feels like I could understand Chris's action although not justifiable. He was sexually abused and sexually active with married women who he thinks is easier to handle than girls his age. He slapped her and raped her in her childhood hideout that only her and Lucy knows about

Wow Chris' initial torment of Anna (for psychological playing with him the first time they met at ball) at Lucy's library was intense. I can feel the fear of Chris' emotional abuse Anna through the author's words. This was their second meeting and by then Chris is infatuated offensively with Anna for her non-demure and hostile attitude to him. He is 10" taller than her and forced kisses on her and groped her.

Lucy and Daniels DeMercy are from similar social class. He is (younger?) half-brother to Christopher Davenport which nobody knows about in the Coxton society except Chris' and his cousin, Matthew. Chris is a bastard son to a whore, who hung herself in front of Chris when he was 5yo. It's insinuated that Chris was sexually abused during his time in the brothel. This took me by surprised and I feel so sad for Chris.

Where to begin? I like the characters and the premise so far. Anna Champion (19yo) is so brave, fun and family-oriented. Her father is sick so she takes on the head of the family duties to raise her three young siblings while they struggle financially. She lives near her best friend of 12y, Lucy Edwards (20yo), who is rich, beautiful and do not let their class difference stop her from hanging out with Anna.