Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Complicit by Winnie M Li

8 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I’m glad the story was told by an Asian woman. We are so often stereotyped as meek and submissive and reliably silent. Unfortunately, I hated the format it was told in - a 400+ page interview. If she’d found a more novel way to do it, and off there has been less telling and more showing of the racism angles, I wouldn’t given this a solid four and maybe even a five.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Alcohol

onion's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Drug use, Misogyny, and Rape

Moderate: Stalking and Racism

Minor: Infidelity, Ableism, and Suicide attempt

pearlbambi's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Fatphobia

alisonannk's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexism

Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Racism, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Xenophobia

loufa's review

challenging dark sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Rape

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

Out today! [Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 4/5 stars

Sarah Lai has spent the past ten years recovering from the unexpected derailment of her career in film. But when a journalist reaches out to discuss the events of her path, Sarah will finally have the opportunity to be heard.

Complicit reeled me in from the very first chapter. The writing was stunningly beautiful and memorable, with a plot that unfurled painstakingly to reveal more nuance on every page. The structure of the novel—mostly a story told by the main character, Sarah, to journalist Thom Gallagher—was extremely engaging as well.

I will note that I don’t necessarily consider this a thriller—to me, it’s more a literary suspense mixed with something that entirely defies genre categorization. But whatever it is, it was gut-wrenching in the best way. And, while there are numerous nods to real-life stories and figures, ultimately Complicit tells a story that feels like it is adding something new to an ongoing conversation rather than rehashing existing tropes or storylines.

If you’re looking for non-stop action or mind-bending twists, this book isn’t the one to pick up. But if you want a quiet, important, poignantly told story that weaves together everything from misogyny and rape culture to the immigrant experience and the intricacies of complicated power dynamics, go grab this one right now.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: literary suspense; dark side of Hollywood stories; beautiful prose.

CW: Misogyny; sexual assault/rape/sexual harassment; drug use/abuse.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault

jnxd_'s review

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Drug use

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Drug use, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body shaming and Rape