Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier

8 reviews

ashleyhart12's review against another edition

dark sad fast-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Fatphobia, Murder, Rape, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide

micaelamariem's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

We all know by now I’m not the biggest thriller fan but I have actually liked a few in the past year! This, unfortunately, was not it. The main thing was I found it so predictable—and I’m normally never right about these things whereas here I called all the twists. Plus there is a lot of SA in the book which I suppose added to it, but it started to get too detailed for me and could be very triggering for other readers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Rape, Blood, Infidelity, Violence, Abandonment, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Murder, Sexual assault, Death, Racism, Grief, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt

britt_thebookworm's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Sexual assault

Moderate: Mental illness, Abandonment, Grief, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Rape, and Pedophilia

kellyxmac's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.75

I loved this so much literally up until … see spoilers. AM I ALONE??!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Rape, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

spoiler: HOW DID PARIS / JOEY WAKE UP NEXT TO THE BATHTUB IF ELSIE MURDERED JIMMY?!?

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

bkmckown's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

Lots of questions throughout the book, events that didn’t line up or cases where you didn’t know who the killer was. It all came together so well. The author really has you rooting for Paris after everything she has been through in her life. The bonus interview with the author at the end said her inspiration for the book was the documentary The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez and I thought that was fascinating. Like the author said, that’s something you watch and it’s so awful, you either say “It’s too much for me” and turn away or you get angry and want to do something about it. I felt the same way. It made me want to advocate for those kids. It was a very thought provoking read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, Blood, and Addiction

kenziburke's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Murder, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Addiction and Abandonment

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

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