Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

14 reviews

legalplanner's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

I thought there was no way that Astrid would be as lovable if not more than Delilah Green's book. Yet here I am completely dumb struck.

The HGTV vibes of this book were really well done. I was afraid that this was going to be the only thing able to propel this book because of Astrid's personality but woah was I totally wrong. Astrid was so much more than what we got to see in book 1, we get to see just how much her mother and all of the expectations on her actually weigh on her and she doesn't want them. Watching Astrid break free and just be and let her relationships become real was such a fun ride.

Jordan was such a great character to read. She was so relatable in feeling like her life was a mess when in reality she had just had a bunch of crappy things going on in a row. I was invested in what happened to her and her former wife. I was invested in how much the Inn meant to her. Honestly Jordan was a much softer version of Delilah and I absolutely loved it.

The angst and pining in this was top tier. I think that Astrid and Jordan have become my favorite couple in this series. And they may stay that way but I'll have to give Iris a chance.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders

readwithria's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail is a book for the women who put too much pressure on themselves. It's a book for the women who value everyone else's expectations above their personal happiness. It's for the women who keep doing what they're doing without ever asking if it's actually what they want. Astrid resonated with me so much, and her growth in this book was phenomenal.

With that said, something was missing for me. The main conflict in the second half of the book could have been avoided, or changed, and I felt that way for a large chunk of the book. But then I got to the last couple chapters and I saw the vision for the ending, so while I understand why the book was written the way it was I strongly believe there was another option that would have had better communication and less general lying.

Read this if you love
- baking
- self-discovery
- home renovation and interior design
- queer joy
- opposites attract

I can't wait to read more from Ashley Herring Blake. 4 stars!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Death of parent and Gaslighting

mollyrook's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Death of parent

prettynerdy3's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

fanboyriot's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Read For:

Small Town

Rivals to Lovers

Queer Awakening

Workplace Romance

Coming Out Later in Life

I absolutely loved all the queer rep in this book.  The small-town romance I didn't even know I needed.  The friendships, the side characters, and the setting were all so lovely too.  I love the vibe of Bright Falls and I was happy to read more from this world.  It was also lovely to read more about Astrid and getting to see her find out who she is without her mother controlling everything.  It was so satisfying to see her character development.

(Switching, Third Person POV)

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Rep: Bisexual MC, Lesbian MC, Non-Binary SC, BIPOC SC, LGBTQIA+

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, and Mental illness

Minor: Grief, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Vomit, and Homophobia

ka_ke's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ashley Herring Blake is becoming one of my favourite cozy authors. I love her characters, the settings, and the sociology that is incorporated in her explanation of queer culture. 

Although predictable, sometimes thats what you need. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

A little slow to capture my full-attention, this book made up for that with a sweet second half. It’s an enemies to lovers with some forced proximity which was an okay plot line but not my favorite. There’s a little spice but not as much as other romance novels. Overall it was cute, fun, and enjoyable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Cancer, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Death of parent

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Death of parent, Alcohol, Cancer, Infidelity, and Gaslighting

readandfindout's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

Style/writing: 3 stars
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Death, Mental illness, Vomit, and Death of parent

aseel_reads's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

I liked the arc of Astrid a lot in this and I really liked the romance 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Child abuse