Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

20 reviews

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.0

SO CREEPY AND SO GOOD 😳 I am going to be thinking about this story for a while!

Anna is such a badass. Initially, I was unsure of whether I liked her or not, but as the story went on and the narrative unfolded I realised she was so villainised.

LET’S JUST SAY IT, the family were the fucking villains! Thank fuck for maybe Justin, Mia and Waverly 🙄

I am glad there was a relatively happy ending to it.

There is nothing like tying up loose ends than the protagonist always having a symbol of their haunting to keep, but then getting to move to Italy and be an artist 😂

I’m not saying it’s a happy tale throughout though. In fact, if you get squirmish I would not recommend this! Content warnings included below.

4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, and Death

latasharm's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book made me think a lot about perspective and the way, in books like this, we have to remember that we are getting a biased take on the story. The main character was so well done. Like I wanted to believe her that she was a great person and that her family was just complete and utter dog shit but after finishing I really was wondering if it wasn’t the other way around. The storyline was very good and so many parts of this book just absolutely creeped me the freak out. The author did a really good job of combining real life everyday horrors with the supernatural ghost story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Vomit, Violence, and Toxic relationship

jenmtnbike's review

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Blood, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Murder

louiepotterbook's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Bullying, Child death, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Gore, Misogyny, and Pedophilia

godfrina's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Who knew you can depict a hot summer's vacation day in Italy so convincingly, insects buzzing, hair sticking to your neck, sweat dripping down your bra, while feeling the cold rush of a violent presence in your vacation home, all while describing the most toxic family dynamic most people will be able to pick out reference points from?
Jennifer Thorne, that's who.

Incredibly realistic feeling haunted house story - the intense descriptions of family together on vacation, in the heat of an Italian summer made the haunting almost too palpable. I'd say, this is the second book next to an easy summer romcom you should take with you on vacation this summer!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

clairebonney's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Death

Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Cursing

Minor: Abortion, Animal death, and Infertility

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cursing, Gore, Violence, Vomit, Death, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Child death, Abortion, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Sexual harassment

karalynaa's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Self harm, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Infertility

mamabeardteacher's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Alcohol, Car accident, Vomit, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Blood, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Biphobia, and Cursing

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Death of parent

mmccombs's review

dark funny tense fast-paced

5.0

When I picked up this book, I (for some reason) anticipated more of a gothic horror vibe, but this was truly straight HORROR at its best. Lots of bits that made me go “agh no!” out loud, a very atmospheric (and wonderfully Italian) setting, and a really interesting family dynamic all worked together to create a rich, creepy tapestry. I loved that Anna and her black sheep relationship to her family directly impacted and influenced the ghost story.

I loved that she got a bit snarky with the ghost, it became a relationship in its own right and made for some funny moments (which were definitely welcome when I was freaking out thinking about a ghost licking her foot). I also appreciated that she never reconciles with her terrible family and let the “rot” do its thing, truly awful people lol

All in all, I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this read, would definitely recommend for a scary summer read (maybe even on a family vacation just to keep it interesting!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis