Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander

51 reviews

kell_xavi's review

dark hopeful sad medium-paced

3.5

This is a book full of acceptance and empathy for people dealing with trauma, neglect, abuse, and mental disorders. It follows Meredith, a kind-hearted, reserved woman who suffers from panic attacks and severe depressive episodes when she attempts to leave her house. She has been home for over three years, with a careful routine, an online job, an orange cat, and many indoor hobbies to keep her company. In this novel, Meredith tries to grow human connections, to cope with her personal history—told through flashback memories every few chapters—and to go outside.

The writing reminded me Nina LaCour, with its gentle movement through memory and its aftermath. Though Watch Over Me and We Are Okay, the most similar novels to this one, are both centred around characters 20+ years younger than Alexander’s protagonist, the voices had commonalities: a sense of small wonders, isolation, low self-esteem and a lot of self-blame, kindness and brokenness and pride in small achievements. Part of this is how the titular character here is treated, but the youthful is also a little odd, and I sometimes forgot she had 40 years of life within her.

A couple parts come together too easily, and others are belaboured, which lessens my overall rating. Fiona is a tangled character with a complex relationship to her sister, so it’s inevitably messy , but I think the depiction could’ve been stronger. And I don’t think either trendy pop version of the cover fits the book well! I did enjoy Meredith and her support network though. I liked the jigsaw puzzles and baking, the lack of judgment on age or any sort of expected landmark; I feel that depression and its most difficult effects are represented well in these pages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault

Minor: Fatphobia

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Thanks to Libro.fm and the publisher for providing me with a free audio copy!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Meredith has not left her house for over three years, but slowly begins to make progress on the journey to healing with the help of her friends.

This is extremely character-driven literary fiction, and I’m glad I read it on audio because that is usually my preferred format for that genre! I expected a meditation on mental health, and instead got one on friendship, sisterhood, and trauma…which is fine, but not exactly what the synopsis seems to suggest. That said, I found the characters really enjoyable, and Meredith’s journey was super poignant and beautiful. I was a bit frustrated because I kept wanting *more* from the book (though exactly what I can’t articulate)…but would still recommend to lit fic lovers in the mood for some very deep topics!

CW: Self harm; sexual assault; physical and emotional abuse; mental health/trauma generally

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Panic attacks/disorders

revengesrose's review

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, Cancer, and Death of parent

ashwmiller's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

This book felt like a warm hug. It deals with themes of loneliness and depression, but is ultimately hopeful. You root for the protagonist as she finds ways to return to herself while processing trauma and a complicated family history, and discovers connection/friendship in unexpected places. 

A cozy read that I won’t necessarily continue thinking about now that I’ve finished it — but I truly enjoyed the company of it while I was reading it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts

coligmueller's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Self harm

eggatha's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Sexual assault

showmeyourbookies's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Self harm

sjfarrell's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This book, while such a good read, is also a super hard read. I recommend to only read this book in a good headspace, because it is very heavy and definitely not for everyone.

But it was for me amazingly. There are elements of hope and light in the darkness, such as found family and supportive friends. There is also very deep complex trauma and family relationships in this book, and the entirety of the effects and messy healing process are not concealed or tied in a pretty bow. We get the real, raw deal in this book. Not a lighthearted read, but a real read with a lot of depth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Violence, Death, Cancer, and Abandonment

mackenziebauman's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Domestic abuse