Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey

6 reviews

stanleykaty's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual assault and Stalking

nyquillll's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

3.0

What a mind bender. This book didn’t deliver the most shocking of twists - I predicted at least half of the twists, and I think the author left a heavy dose of bread crumbs throughout the book - but it did mostly keep me interested and engaged. 

Things I liked: the plot around getting divorced after being married so long and having a kid, the complexity around establishing a new sense of normal after such a life-changing event/change in identity, mother-daughter dynamics, the confusing and messy process of finding yourself and who you are when it isn’t tied to a role (mother, wife), and the importance of female friendships who will give it to you straight.

Things that were more challenging for me: (more notes in the “spoiler” section of my review, the content warnings I’ve added are also somewhat spoilers) the amount and depth in which the darker themes of this book were covered was a LOT for me. From reading the synopsis, and knowing it was a thriller, I knew there were going to be some fucked up things, but the level of detail that’s included related to some of these topics made me viscerally unwell (which I guess also means the author did a good job of describing situations accurately enough to provoke and emotional response). I found it difficult many times to read some of the darker parts - and I almost kept reading just to see if there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Though I was also quite confused with the ending because kind of open-ended and ominous? Eden was also a hard character to get invested in - because she had her positives (trying to be a good mom, working in her community, trying to encourage her ex-husband to be more expressive), she also had her flaws (pushing people too hard, engaging in an affair before the divorce was filed, bad cop/good cop parenting). Her decisions mainly made me frustrated with how much she was leading with her desires rather than logic.

That said, I don’t know that I would’ve chosen to read this book knowing the level of context and details are used for the darker parts. 

I also was confused why the ending was left open a bit? And ominous? 

If anything, this book did have me thinking “What’s going to happen next??” and the twist where all the storylines come together was unexpected - I literally had to cover my mouth with my hand when my jaw dropped. But also the last two chapters didn’t give as much closure as I would’ve appreciated. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Stalking, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Torture, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Alcohol

Things I found challenging about the book: this book is DARK in its coverage of

toxic relationships, an abusive relationship (emotional, physical, psychological), toxic parents/parent-child relationship, sexual assault, drugging, physical assault, an adult suggestively messaging a minor, the excruciatingly challenging act of trying to escape an abusive relationship, being physically and verbally degraded by a spouse, and dealing with personality disorders (implied schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder).

I did enjoy one aspect of the twist where, as the reader, we can pretty much tell off the bat that Justin is a slimy, questionable, dangerous guy. The author leads us to believe he is engaging in the affair with Eden on his own and then reveals that it’s Olivia who’s been doing this to try and get help from Eden.

”…but she was desperate for her father to notice, even once, how viciously Justin treated her. He never did. Or he simply didn’t care.”

”My love for Ava is unconditional and almost painfully deep. And I don’t know how to care for her right now.”

toofondofbooks_'s review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

This doesn't come out for a few more days but I read it early because I'm a prime member ✨

Anyway, this was a fun read. It was kind of stupid but also really readable. I barely put it down since i started it. I honestly just kind of enjoyed the unhinged ride it took me on for what it was: a ride. I was definitely engaged with the writing even if I found myself thinking many times that these characters were very conveniently dumb as rocks. There was something about this little book that kept me going and I honestly don't know what it was exactly. Maybe I just needed something fast paced that didn't demand too much of me to help me get through the week? Who knows. if you're looking for something fast paced that isn't going to require too much critical thought, pick this one up for the vibes and vibes alone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Ableism, Stalking, Sexual content, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Car accident, Drug use, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Bullying, Confinement, Blood, Gore, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Fire/Fire injury

ulviyyask's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Car accident

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

deshanejt's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

*Read as an Amazon Prime First Reads edition*

This was a fast suspenseful read for me, and had me flipping pages to figure out how everyone was connected. The author didn't dwell on scene setting or too much character development, so you're plunged headlong into the drama and suspense. 

If I take away one thing from this book, its communication is key, folks! 😅

If you're a sensitive reader, please read all TWs. I didn't find this book to be overly graphic in detail, but certain topics were discussed heavily and frequently. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Grief, Death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Drug use

Minor: Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Blood, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders

casualpaper's review

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? It's complicated

1.0

Spoiler but the book ends with Olivia being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and being institutionalized. This is NOT an accurate depiction of BPD at all! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Infidelity

Moderate: Car accident, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Dementia, and Sexual violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol