Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

56 reviews

c_m_m's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

disguisedposer's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Suicide attempt, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Grief, and Dementia

kylieduncan's review against another edition

dark tense 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? Yes

3.5

Trigger warning: suicide, slavery

I was going to give this a 4 but the ending left me questions moving it back down to 3.5. A pretty good thriller that kept me invested for most of the book. There were parts of the ending that I really did not understand. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Slavery, and Suicide attempt

Trigger warning: suicide, slavery I was going to give this a 4 but the ending left me questions moving it back down to 3.5. A pretty good thriller that kept me invested for most of the book. There were parts of the ending that I really did not understand.

michelle_my_belle's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

 This was a solid thriller. It was fast-paced, suspenseful, and full of twists and secrets. I did feel like the last chunk of the book took an odd turn and resolved kind of abruptly. I also didn't really connect with any of the characters. Overall, an entertaining read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexism, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Violence, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, Classism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gore, Infidelity, Stalking, and Alcohol

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Dementia, Addiction, and Forced institutionalization

lucykae's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Addiction, and Confinement

readingonthefly's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Death, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Car accident and Blood

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was not what I was expecting, but you know what? I'm not mad about it. Whatever you think this book is about unlearn it. Think of the plot of "The Last Mrs. Parrish" by Liv Constantine, but wilder. It was just twist after twist after twist. The things that happen in this book are a little jarring (nothing out of left or anything, but still pretty shocking). I guessed some twists. I didn't guess others. There's a specific character that I was suspicious of from the beginning and I'm glad even in fiction I can spot toxicity.😂 Overall I feel like it was a really good page-turner and I really enjoy the friendship between Hazel and Lee. It was a good book, but the writing wasn't all that spectacular. There were actually a couple of grammar mistakes that I caught and I do feel like the ending was rushed, but I still enjoyed it overall.

Glad my girls are back together! In spite of everything, I still love them and their friendship!

Like I said definitely not a bad book if you're looking for something quick and entertaining!

Note: I'd just like to mention that I admire how the author takes her time to humanize homeless people and anything else who is in a situation in which they feel trapped rather that be literally or figuratively. I also admire how she took the topic of BDSM delicately and didn't dehumanize it and prioritize that acts like those are only harmful when they're nonconsensual.  

Spice Rating: 🌶️/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual violence, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Alcohol, and Death of parent

Minor: Car accident, Sexual content, Body shaming, Confinement, and Torture

samanthaleeshea's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Great fast read, lots of twists and turns.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Confinement, and Torture

Moderate: Dementia, Drug use, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

nabaraditi'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? Yes

4.0

I was unable to put the book down from the first page and was eating it up till I reached 70-80% and then the ending just ruined it for me. Basically the first three parts are too good and part 4 just got worse and worse. The ending didn't make much sense to me. Like it didn't give me any satisfaction that now the main two characters are free from poverty and husband and other bad shit they were caught up in. 

If I talk about the first three parts of the book, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book. I was going to give it 4.5 stars. It was soooo thrilling. So twisted. A perfect psychological thriller. You have no idea if Lee is being betrayed by Hazel, if Hazel actually has an abusive husband or she's lying. I loved the back stories of the characters that led them to the horrible situation they are in in the present. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent

starrfishandcoffee's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

HOLY TWIST! This tense, fast-paced thriller was full of surprises and had me hooked! The dual POV added even more suspense, it was like a cliffhanger at the end of each “part”.  Both main characters (Lee and Hazel) were well developed and totally believable. I often feel that there are plot details and/or deviations that aren’t necessary in mystery/thriller novels and I did not feel that way while reading this one. The plot twists had me on edge and both characters’ fear was palpable. I can absolutely see why this was on so many Best of 2023 lists!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Misogyny