Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

15 reviews

cassielaj's review

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I liked this. I love a ghost story that also exposes the horrors that exist among the living. The concept of Mary showing everyone their fears and horrors was very creepy and compelling, the back and forth between Fiona and the Idlewild girls kept me on my toes, and both of the mysteries had enough twists that I wasn’t always a step ahead. This book has a lot of emotion in it as well, which always improves a mystery in my opinion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

This book discusses the Holocaust and Nazi prison camps.

omdenman's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicide, and Antisemitism

caroljc's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

kait_sixcrowsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This was my second book from Simone St. James — my first being The Sun Down Motel — and it blew me away. It threaded together so many different things — the toxic “good ol’ boy” culture within police forces, forced institutionalization, how so very little women and girls are believed are taken seriously — and it did so in such a way that made for a tense, thrilling, ultimately sad read. While the end seemed a bit rushed to me, I believe that the meandering plot before the climax more than made up for it for it.

I definitely recommend this book if you’d be into something that, while spooky sometimes, is mostly a critique on how little thought is given to women and girls and their experiences, both currently and historically.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Murder

colleenward_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

wowza.
I absolutely love when a mystery moves at a pace that you can follow, and actually lets you feel like you can be a detective in the story. Expletives were shouted when my suspicions were confirmed; I love love LOVE when that happens!

I had very little knowledge of the plot when starting this book but quickly became attached to the story of four boarding school girls: Sonia, Katie, CeCe, and Roberta. I also really enjoyed the switching of time periods and the connectedness of everyone living in this little town in Vermont. 

The Broken Girls has a little bit of everything - spook, thrill, mystery - and I’d strongly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an extension of spooky szn right about now!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Gun violence