Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

24 reviews

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

hereiskyra's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Dementia

redefiningrachel's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Confinement, Lesbophobia, Death, Mental illness, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Dementia, Bullying, Violence, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Classism, and Body shaming

Moderate: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Vomit

cheaploaf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Book started off a little slow but was worth the wait to get to the many twists to come! Couldn’t put the book down. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good thriller book. Some parts felt unrealistic but was still an enjoyable read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Death, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, and Gaslighting

cassiealexandra's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

Lee was a New York restauranteur before the pandemic. Fleeing her career failure, some major debt to a dangerous man, and familial strife with her sister, she's now in Seattle, Washington. One night as she sleeps in her car (home) along the beach of an upscale neighborhood where she hopes to go unnoticed, she hears a woman's screams. Lee ends up saving Hazel's life, but Hazel isn't grateful for the rescue. The women start an unlikely friendship where Hazel shares about her abusive marriage and desire for escape.

I really liked this one and felt like every time I had the plot figured out, there was more to the story. I was a definitely uncomfortable with the nature of the abusive marriage, and normally would never pick up a story with BDSM and a total power exchange in it, but none of it was explicit or descriptive. I liked seeing the way each of the main characters developed, and liked the dual point of view. There were a couple of times when Lee came off as naive. It was also interesting to explore the topic of homelessness and privilege through this lens. 

Overall, I'd recommend this one to readers who are okay with some gruesome scenes, enjoy some twists and turns, and like to puzzle out plots. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

brebooks_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

smittanybrith's review against another edition

dark tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

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