Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus

5 reviews

annamwallace66's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Infidelity, Murder, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, Outing, Abandonment, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, and Alcoholism

lochnessvhs's review against another edition

4.0

I'm not sure if this is truly a 4-star book. I loved the last chapter so much with Addy at the beach. And maybe I'm nostalgic because this was my final book of 2023. Either way, I think it was a great end to my reading year, and I am thankful to Karen McManus for creating this crazy world.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Murder

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

The characters are diverse in that there are LGBTQ+ characters. All characters feel very white, even though some of them may not be. This may just be an error in reading on my part or some sort of internalized stereotype however. 
This book starts as possibly the slowest and most boring book of the trilogy. The first forty percent of the book contains a lot of set up and very little suspense. The characters also feel like they should all be in their late twenties, even though two of them are in their late teens. They don't feel old in the way most other traumatized characters do either. They seem mostly unphased by the events of the last two books other than when there is an active threat. 
There are several potential antagonists being hinted at throughout the novel.  This is often a very nice technique however I felt the technique was a bit fumbled upon the reveal.

It winds up being none of them. It is two characters, one who shares a work place with one of our main characters and another character you lowkey forget exists until the reveal.

 
The world is also unrealistic in how it handles certain events

Owen being revealed to be complicit in the actions of Jared in book 2. The whole town just seems to shrug and go 'huh. okay.' The town also seems fine with revealed accusations that Jake's legal father killed his biological father.

There was also very unrealistic use of an ankle monitor. This is partially justified by the incompetence of the local police.

You have only a few minutes before the ankle monitor alerts the police of any potential tampering. Jake would have been found before he even had a chance to be missing.

 
The ending is a happy one with promises at a good future for all of them. Well for everyone who survives. Hooray for therapy!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Confinement, Car accident, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gun violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Addiction, and Alcoholism

Minor: Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Toxic relationship

Drug use due to the drugging and kidnap of several characters, past and present. There is also mild discussion of the nonconsensual recording of characters during sex acts.

hales_1243's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

While this isn't my favorite book in the trilogy, I do like how it ended. I love that the Bayview crew gets a happy ending, while also growing and acknowledging what they've been through. The pacing was nice and I really enjoyed the story. It did get a little dull halfway through, but I think it picked up again after the final reveal in part 1.

I loved the discussion about privilege and how it plays into the legal justice system. </Spoiler>

In regards to a potential drug use trigger,

a character was roofied at a party.

In regards to a potential sexual violence trigger,

there is a storyline discussing nonconsensual recording of sexual acts.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, and Car accident

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Addiction

maca_vr's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Body horror, and Blood

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Drug use