Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

184 reviews

lydiavsbooks's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

4.0

This was a hard one to rate and I don't really know what to say other than wtf. I can't say i enjoyed it, but I was glued to it and finished it in one sitting. 

Its best to go in knowing nothing to make the most of the grossed out, confusing experience. The email/text format really just helps be able to whizz through it in one go without feeling able to put it down. Definitely an experience, but not for everyone and please do be aware of the trigger warnings if you're unsure.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Vomit

reading_ali's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.25

Beautifully written.  Gory. Disturbing. Full of content warnings and flowery words. Not as sexual as I expected it to be, perhaps worse. First time a book actually makes me physically nauseous, thats fantastic writing for you.  

But also would have been better if Agnes’ mental health didn't deteriorate so quickly, left it time to marinate, would have been more impactful that way. As it is now the story feels like shock-value horror and quite empty, but it could have been sitting-deep-in-my-bones-forever horror instead.
However I did really enjoy the way some themes were explored. Certain passages were very well thought out, with great allegories and metaphors to trauma and such delicate topics.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Vomit

grimjobs's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

1.0

Shock value for shock value, no real substance to the book. I was expecting a deeper meaning to be revealed, but it never came. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

roaze's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.75

What have you done to deserve your eyes today?
 
Ahh that quote gives me goosebumps! 

Reading this book was like watching a car crash, wanting to look away, but being unable to tear your eyes from the horrifying scene. 
It was unflinching and deprived. 
I think I’m beginning to love stories about dark obsessions between women.  

Although… I did expect it to get even darker after reading some reviews. I really wanted there to be a big climax, a more definitive conclusion or meeting of the two women in someway. So I was disappointed to be left wanting with unanswered questions. I really feel as if it could’ve been 4 stars if there was a few more chapters and the ending just packed a bit more of a punch.

But overall I still love it in all of its stomach turning aspects.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Vomit

Moderate: Cursing, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

cady_sass's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I am deeply disturbed but also I can’t stop thinking about it??? None of this makes any sense, I hate it so much. But also, I don’t. None of that is a useful review. What a completely unhinged piece of writing. Couldn’t put it down. Pissed at the ending but, upon reflection, how do you end it any other way? I wish it was a full novel and not so short but perhaps it would lose some of the luster. This will live in my head rent-free forever and I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.

Cover art 50/10 though. Literally the most stunning novel on my shelf and it stays just for that reason alone

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

ariet's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

2.75

A quick read, and kind of like passing a car wreck. You know things aren't going to end well, but you just can't stop, which is a testament to LaRocca's writing. At the same time, while I couldn't put it down, I wasn't really satisfied from a plot angle, a common weakness in epistolary-style stories. Will I read it again? Probably not. Will I think about it whenever I make an apple pie? It will haunt my baking like a ghost.

Triggers are about, so if you're considering picking it up, please check out the CW section.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Vomit

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

rileymay's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

ok yes this is the weirdest most disturbing thing I've ever read but i thought it was a really interesting exploration of the lengths people will go to be understood or just to feel

something about that woman cradling a tape worm is the loneliest most depressing thing I can think of

i needed to lie down for a little afterwards

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, and Murder

kkalicky94's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship

cinnamon_'s review against another edition

1.0

Not gonna lie, this was one of the worst books I've ever read. It was just bad.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

salvatorer2's review against another edition

• 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? Yes

The book was really distressing to read.

The detailed accounts of maiming, animal death, and recounted gruesome events from the news will probably stay with you long after. However, there was some missed oppotunities. I feel that the rabbit eating their babies was unneeded, as well as the priest running over the cat, because neither of them add anything to the themes of the story.

They were unnecessary. Just for shock value. Other than that, it was okay. Idk if im gonna read it again, but we’ll see

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail