Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey

7 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

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

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

bellebookcorner's review

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-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

This book was such a page turner, how do I know ? 

I sit down to read this book and the moment I want to stop reading it, I didn’t realize I was already more than halfway through reading it! 

 

The story is told in multiple POVs and also divided into three parts. I really like the 2nd and 3rd parts where the truths start to come out one by one. 

There’s also a couple unexpected twists throughout the story especially near the ending that really surprised me as well. 

 

As for the characters, it took a while for me to really like Eden’s character because I got annoyed with her poor decision making skill, however at one side I also can understand her feelings regarding the situation she's in which can cloud her judgment. 

 

Then there’s Olivia, I don’t know what to say about her to be honest… she’s a very complex character and it was interesting to get to know her story. I really enjoy following this story through her POV. 

 

One thing I wish differently is only about the flashbacks, sometimes it happen too abruptly in the middle of something going on in the present time which can be slightly confusing. 

 

Nevertheless, I feel satisfied with the ending, it was wrapped up nicely – the mystery from that night party 20 years ago is finally solved along with the main characters finally on the process of healing and to a better future. 

I’m looking forward to read more books from this author in the future! 

Thank you to ThrillerBookLoversPromotions, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!

 

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: stalking, kidnapping, mental illness, domestic abuse, death 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Stalking

Moderate: Sexual content and Death

Minor: Death of parent

soobooksalot's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The word "dark" in the title of Samantha Bailey's newest release is certainly fitting!
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for my eARC of A Friend In The Dark for the book tour review!
I've been a fan of Sam's books since her debut with Woman On The Edge, then her follow-up Watch Out For Her. 
A Friend In The Dark definitely keeps the streak going. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down.
This novel is Sam's wildest yet. It's dark, edgy, and doesn't hold back on the reveals and twists. 
But it's also about damaged women trapped in painful relationships and past events that are spilling into the present.
Told from the dual-POVs of Eden and Olivia, I was second-guessing the entire time. 
Both women are lost souls, in questionable marriages, but one is much more damaged than the other.
A Friend In The Dark will be released on March 1 - you can preorder now. Recommended!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Murder, Car accident, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

theinstabookworm's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Dark, deceptive, and sexy! And I'm obsessed with the pink in this cover! I didn't quite devour this like I did Sam's previous two books, and it took me a minute to get into this story. But, when part two starts and we are given another perspective, I had whiplash! At first I wasn't sure how I felt about that shift, but as the story progressed and I saw that character in a different light, I had a change of heart and started to really feel for the character and their story. And THAT ENDING?! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault