Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

60 reviews

llburnett94's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Confusing perspective jumps

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Content Warnings

Minor: Incest, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Death

jess_d84's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Dementia, Torture, Pedophilia, Eating disorder, and Blood

devynvictoria's review against another edition

I can’t pin point why, but I’ve been trying to get through this book for a month and have next to no real draw to keep picking it up. I want to try and pick it up again later on, because I do respect the message the book is getting across— it’s just not a win for me right now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Grief, Sexual assault, Death, Sexism, Blood, Violence, Sexual violence, and Rape

Moderate: Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Eating disorder and Death of parent

kimreads14's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I truly enjoyed this retelling of the victim side of the Bundy case. 

It shows a sort of two sides of the same coin idea. One of the narrator represents the victim that will be killed, and the other one of the survivors fighting for justice to be served. All of it being nicely tied through Tina.

I’m still confused as to whether or not this is a work of fiction or not. Or maybe just part fiction part non-fiction? 

I loved the closing chapter, it was really moving, and also showed that unfortunately not everything comes full circle at all time, but as long as there’s hope, there’s the possibility of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

kierlopez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Death, Violence, Hate crime, Body horror, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Outing, and Torture

lisa00's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Sexual violence, Sexism, Child abuse, Child death, Body shaming, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Outing, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Blood

Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

Minor: Incest and Pandemic/Epidemic

kaleegannon's review against another edition

4.0

really enjoyed! bit heavy handed at times (like felt like something my mom would read?? if that makes sense??) but super engaging plot and i appreciated the messages

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Grief, Death, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, Sexism, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Forced institutionalization

achay91's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Death, Murder, Sexism, Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Incest, Death of parent, and Homophobia

brookiet1220's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

As a predominantly historical fiction reader, this fictionalized retelling of Ted Bundy’s atrocious crimes had the perfect mix of historical and thrilling elements that kept me turning the pages.  The author’s decision to refer to Bundy’s stand-in as the Defendant was a statement with in itself.  Referring to this character in this way diminishes his importance.

The POVs that are featured in the novel are the FSU sorority president and a young woman from Washington state.  The Washington state victim’s, Ruth, POV had more intriguing pieces than Pamela’s, the FSU sorority president’s, did.  While readers can infer what happened to Ruth, the meeting with the Defendant and figuring out if Tina’s hunch had truth to it were not revealed until the last 10% of the book.  It is not any less sad when Ruth’s suspected final resting place is revealed.  Ruth’s complicated  relationship with her family was more of a focus to her POV than Pamela’s.  An aspect of that relationship is Ruth’s lesbianism.  One scene that exemplifies this was when Rebecca, Ruth’s sister-in-law, confronts Ruth in the bedroom she shares with Tina.  

The writing in this book was phenomenal throughout.  Pamela’s POV is filled with many memorable quotes on various topics.  The quotes on the impact the press has on how victims are depicted and the proper way for victims of crimes to act are notable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Grief, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

lottie1803's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is a feminist re-telling of Ted Bundy's crimes against female students in Florida during the 1970s. It retells the crimes from the survivors' perspective and contains well-written commentary on American culture during the period. The prose was great, and it points out the media focus on handsome and charming male criminals at the expense of women's experiences and trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Stalking, Blood, Death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Biphobia, and Forced institutionalization