Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson

14 reviews

kimikreil's review

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Drug use, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

creativerunnings's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Classism, Death, Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

jtpgdavey's review

dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Cursing, Racism, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Homophobia

Minor: Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, and Adult/minor relationship

tkelley23's review

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Addiction, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Mental illness

man_duh's review

dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Deeply darkly honest innermost thoughts of a woman who seems to have it all together on the surface but is crumbling apart. 

Beautifully and often time embarrassingly raw in a way that makes you feel less alone in the terrible thoughts that may cross your mind. Vivian isn’t the villain nor is she someone to root for she is just a person. A fully flawed person who at times leans too far into the racial and sexual bias when at others leans too far back in allowing actual grace for herself. A look into how we would all be perceived if our lives were out in the open.

 Personally connected to Vivian’s ptsd and hyper vigilance, use of fantasies to cope and frustration with others who “had it easier.”  Even the constant body image inner monologues created a needed discomfort and put the reader in Vivian’s thoughts. Covers interesting and heavy topics so wonderfully and never makes it feel that the character’s opinions are the only/right choice. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Drug use, and Mental illness

filmnoirz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

the main character, vivian, was insufferable more often than not but it was so difficult to not be sympathetic towards her. not an excuse for any of her actions, but i understood how her past lead her there and even saw a bit of myself in her. the comments about fatness and body issues were harsh and uncomfortable, and the ending felt a bit rushed. however, i think it’s an interesting read that covers the effects of past abuse and the “obligation” to the family.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia and Eating disorder

Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse

Minor: Violence, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

eslsilver's review

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fatphobia, Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Racism, Stalking, Rape, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Kidnapping

sha's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

I liked a few quotes (hence the .5 stars), but none of the characters were likeable and the pace was so slow. Plus a cat was killed and that immediately makes it 0 stars for me. Also wow look at the tigger warnings. I wish I didn’t read this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

ebonyrose's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I have a soft spot for unlikeable, insane, wretched women characters in novels. I love them. Love when they are irredeemable, crass, and awful people. And, even so, the main character of this novel was almost too much for me. She was so...abhorrent. Judgemental, mean, vindictive, selfish beyond measure and very unpleasant. But Vivian was also sharp, funny, fierce and deeply traumatized. It was hard not to get pulled into the deepest and darkest recesses of her mind and not begin to root for her, just a little at first. And then a lot. Post-Traumatic has a meandering plot following Vivian's life as a psych ward lawyer, pothead and dating addict, but this is a character study first and foremost. The plot is really very secondary to the deep interiority of this novel.

I was struck by the writing in this novel. It is that distinctly millennial style - sharp and darkly funny, with such crystal clear and honest observations about people and relationships that it almost takes your breath away. So many moments in this novel where I'd stop and think I thought I was the only fucked up monster whose ever had a (weird/ violent/ bizarre/ scary/ devastaing etc etc) thought like that?! In the vein of Normal People, or Luster or Insatiable, reading this book was cathartic, frustrating, frightening, and illuminating all at once. I won't forget it any time soon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Dysphoria, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Classism, Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, and Misogyny

nordstina's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

In Post-Traumatic, Vivian is a lawyer working with mental health clients, and as the book progresses the reader gains more and more insight into her coping mechanisms for the trauma she experienced through her childhood (and ongoing strained relationship with her family as a result). It's an unflinching look at the mind and thoughts of someone struggling. She presents a front to others, for example heavily researching interests prior to having conversations in order to present an engaged and knowledgable front. She seeks validation particularly in men. She is incredibly focused on physical appearance and food (major trigger warning for readers as ED behavior runs rampant throughout the novel). We see her fragile supports falling away over time. This debut novel does an impressive job of entering the mind of someone struggling with trauma, and is willing to present Vivian in unfavorable light at times. She's a complex character, and I appreciate the journey the reader goes on with her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Body shaming

Moderate: Child abuse and Drug use