Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier

37 reviews

kcelena's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Infidelity, Dementia, and Blood

clevelandbookgirl's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Cursing, Rape, Racism, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Gore

Moderate: Drug abuse, Vomit, Drug use, Dementia, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

kshertz's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I love a good mystery. I also love when I can call any part of the book. Which in this case was only 1/5 twists. But I’ll take it! It’s a page turner that I couldn’t put down. Definitely worth the read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship

haleysversion's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Violence

mpargoff's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Child abuse, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

bookmarkedbybecky's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense 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

Paris Peralta gets arrested for the murder of her famous husband - a murder that looks eerily similar to a murder committed by Ruby Reyes twenty years earlier.  Paris knows her arrest could jeopardize her long-buried past. Now, it’s only a matter of time before someone recognizes her.  Well, Ruby Reyes knows exactly who Paris REALLY is, and when Ruby is unexpectedly released from prison, Paris must confront the past she thought she escaped.  

I’m really impressed TWDITD! Unlike a couple of Hillier’s other books I’ve read, this one didn’t have a major twist, at least not for me. I figured out “the who,” but “the why” is the winner here.  Hillier develops a character-driven psychological thriller that slowly unveils the lasting effects of abuse, neglect, and childhood trauma.  The toxic relationship between mother and daughter is written brilliantly, riddled with emotional abuse, physical abuse, and generational trauma. Bravo to Hillier for putting the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book because this one tackles lots of dark themes. 

I love Carla Vega’s narration!  I definitely recommend this format.  Vega nails the Filipino accent and sings song lyrics. 🤩Overall, the narration elevates this dark tale. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence

Dark themes

randina's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment

amandasbookreview's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

3.0

Thank you, NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Jennifer Hillier for the opportunity to read this book! It will release tomorrow, July, 19th!

“She wasn’t afraid of the dark anymore. There was nothing the dark could do to her that it hadn’t already done.”

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK

TRIGGER WARNINGS: rape, assault, gaslighting, severe child abuse, murder, murder scenes, etc…

I was hoping to finish this book before the weekend but we just had the best vacation. While I did read a little bit here and there, I wasn’t able to complete the book until last night. Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier starts off strong. Paris Peralta wakes up to find herself covered in blood. It is not her blood but her husband’s blood, the famous comedian, Jimmy Peralta. She is arrested on suspicion of murder. She is his 5th wife, a lot younger than him, and there is a lot of money to gain, but she did not kill him. This is not the first time she has been connected to a murder, nor is it the second time…

As I said, the beginning is so strong, but then it got repetitive. The book is broken up into several parts and changes points of view. Honestly, Drew’s section was extremely dull and he tries to figure out what happened to his friend Joey, who was murdered years before. The ending started to pick up as all the loose ends began to unfold. I did find the finale a bit anti-climatic as well.

However, this book is labeled as a thriller. There are several moments that give off that vibe. But I wouldn’t say the whole book is a thriller. It is mainly about a young girl coming of age in the midst of severe child abuse and trauma and her struggle to run away and be free of her past. The abuse and trauma are HEARTBREAKING and extremely descriptive, so be prepared. It is difficult to read. Overall, it was an intense book about murder and doing whatever it takes to survive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This book has some triggers: child abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, rape, violence,
And intergenerational trauma.

The story opens with Paris, the beautiful, yoga instructor, younger wife of a wildly beloved older comedian and former sitcom star who’s making his comeback, in the bathroom, next to her dead husband, covered in his blood and holding the razor that caused his death. It looks very bad for Paris and she’s immediately arrested. 

Two things become immediately clear: (1) Paris didn’t kill Jimmy, and (2) Paris is keeping a pretty big secret. The crux of the story is about Paris’ past. Jimmy’s death quickly takes back seat Paris’ story.

This is a book about overcoming a difficult (which a huge understatement) childhood and reinvention oneself masquerading as murder mystery.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Book of the Month

macyboston's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Thank you to Jennifer Hillier, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this story.

This was the first book by this author that I've read and I must say I was thoroughly captivated by this story. I intentionally went into it knowing very little about the plot. Knowing that a wife is found standing over her famous dead husband's body holding a knife. Who wouldn't want to know what happens from there?! 

This story was full of suspense with the author dropping little gems about the secrets the protagonist has been hiding about herself for years. The tale is told from multiple points of views and we see a lot of heartache and loss as the story unfolds along with all the suspense. 

I would add a trigger warning for abuse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse