Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

20 reviews

katiedoesntftba's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

I haven't read a book like this in a LONG time where I thought I knew where it was going and I was completely wrong. I got whiplash multiple times and loved it! I wish I could wipe my memory and read it again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Torture, Sexual violence, Confinement, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Slavery, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Sexual content, Drug use, and Gun violence

Minor: Car accident

gambizzy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I wasn’t sure where the twists and turns were going to go which is very nice in a thriller. The book wasn’t wrapped up very well at all though and felt unfinished. It was sometimes lazy/weak writing, but overall enjoyable and quick to read.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Death of parent, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders

bee_isreading's review

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Suicidal thoughts

lisasaurusreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

There better be a sequel to this!!! Fast-paced, dual POV that has you rooting for both female MCs. There’s some predictability in character arcs, but that only adds to the suspense! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Sexual violence

kelpish's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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? Yes

2.75

I'm not sure if I read the same book as everyone else...

I guessed nearly every "twist" in The Drowning Woman's first half. As the reader, some things seemed so obvious to me that I was shocked the characters weren't picking up on (especially since it is written in first-person perspective). However, all of the things I anticipated happened around the middle of the book, so I was looking forward to what unfolded in the rest of the book.

The second half felt disjointed from the first half and it dragged at a glacial pace. Whenever it seemed like something exciting would happen, it never panned out. Meandering through events that could have turned into something exciting felt monotonous. I wanted to see the book through to the end, but it was a bit of a slog.

The perspective shift to be solely from Hazel's perspective (minus the epilogue) was odd. I am guessing the author wanted readers to see the plot's consequences from the book's first half, but I was expecting it to be more exciting than a largely inconsequential legal drama and some minor Gone Girl-esque antics. I was waiting for Carter's death to be pinned on Hazel now or for Lee to rejoin the plot to help Hazel get out from under her abusive husband's schemes one last time. It would have mirrored the plot from the first half and would have been more likely to be more thrilling than the actual snoozefest it was.

All in all, it was a book that could have been pretty good but frequently stumbled and shambled along.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Death of parent

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

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

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

avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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

3.75

   When an unhoused woman saves a rich housewife's life, their lives become intertwined in a murder plot. How will they get out alive? 
   I'm torn on rating this book, I enjoyed that it delved into deeper topics, but I also found it a bit predictable at times. I'd say I predicted at least half the twists.
    I enjoyed the happy ending, but I felt it wrapped up too quickly for how drawn out other elements were.
 
 Narrator Rating: 4.5 stars
    Both narrators were amazing! 

Extra ratings: Fluff - 0/5   Heartfelt- 4.5/5   Helpful -NA    Horror -NA    Inspiration -NA    Love aka Romance- 1/5    Mystery -3/5   Predictability -3.75/5    Spice-1/5    Suspense - 3.5/5    Tear- 4/5   Thrill - 4/5    Humor-0/5 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Violence, Cursing, Grief, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, Dementia, Classism, Death of parent, and Stalking

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

asteinke's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Slavery, Violence, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Stalking

Moderate: Dementia, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Blood, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and Sexual assault