Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

As de picas by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

475 reviews

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Stalking, Violence, Blood, Outing, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Car accident, Grief, Racial slurs, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual content

booksandcurlz's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

I don’t even know where to start with this book.

This book captured me from the first chapter. As the plot progresses and we learn more about Chiamaka and Devon the more engrossed I and invested I was in their predicament. The plot was indeed thrilling and it escalated really fast. I am enraged about what they went through and I cried through the epilogue.

The characters and what I loved about them
♠️ Devon - sweet, shy Devon. He was so passionate about his music and I am so sad he felt like he had to make himself feel invisible. Of course he did shady things but all of them were a direct result of his circumstances, circumstances he had no control over.
♠️ Chiamaka - The way she used her perfect student, mean girl influence to navigate her way to the top was brilliant, it just made me sad that she thought that assimilation was the only way for her to get into her dream college. 
♠️ Terrell - His golden retriever energy throughout this book was so cute. I loved him, even though he let me down a little bit at some point I am glad it all worked out in the end.
♠️ Aces - THAT WAS SCREWED UP, that is all I will say since anything else could be considered a spoiler.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Bullying, Outing, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Racism

Moderate: Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicide attempt

cassy_smith's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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? No

5.0

Really enjoyed this book. Really enjoyed the slower start and really getting to know the characters. The two main characters were the best part. They were very really and relatable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Hate crime, Bullying, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent

ka_schulze's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Bullying

Moderate: Murder, Violence, Sexism, Stalking, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Grief

alexthegoat's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Couldn’t put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Death, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, and Car accident

camrich's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Hate crime, Bullying, Violence, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Cursing, Classism, Outing, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Cancer

mxleelah's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Racism, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Car accident, Gaslighting, Death, and Outing

theuncannydani's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Racism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Stalking, Classism, Death, Car accident, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual harassment, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Confinement, Alcohol, Suicide, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual violence

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Cursing, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug abuse

emilyreads15's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

This book is POWERFUL. I’ve truly never read anything like this before and I’m super thankful that my book club chose this as one of our reads. Not only was it deeply emotional but it was also very enlightening and inspiring. Ace of Spades was not only an interesting read with an interesting plot but it also discussed real world stereotypes and issues that I think more people should be aware of. This book and these characters allowed me to see our world from a completely different perspective. I was aware that racism is very much still a thing to this day but never to this extent. I’m thankful to the author for writing this book to allow readers, like myself, to learn more about topics that may have never been exposed to me before. 

On top of the meaningful message, the story was also beautifully written with lots of diversity and fast paced chapters that always kept my attention. I’ve given it 4.5 only because it’s not an all time favorite but it is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. So much happened throughout the book, it was never boring and I’m very happy with the ending.

Overall this book was so beautiful and emotional. I 100% recommend this not just to readers but to everyone. I think every person should read this book at least once in their life. I’m looking forward to reading more by Faridah Àbíké-íyímídé in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Racial slurs, Drug abuse, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use

Minor: Gun violence, Death, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury

abbszabbs's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse