Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Tragedia en villa Rosato by Rachel Hawkins

33 reviews

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

The pacing was so off on this one for me. I was bored the entire book and then drawn in the last 50 or so pages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide

Minor: Grief, Terminal illness, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Vomit

queenb13's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Child death

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Blood

ohennui's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Death, Drug use, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Grief, and Miscarriage

tamara_joy's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, and Death

Minor: Child death, Classism, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, and Chronic illness

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Grief, Toxic friendship, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Drug use, Death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Classism and Gore

Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Sexual content

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

The Villa read like a modern gothic, with the atmosphere oppressive, foreboding, with a stunningly described setting that makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters. Rachel Hawkins deftly explores complex friendships, toxic relationships, and creative tension in a way that was so engaging I just didn’t want to put it down. The twists had me absolutely gasping and the dual pov with shifting timelines just added to the dread and drama of each storyline. 

Honestly, this book made me want to go back to Italy so badly! The setting is so well-depicted, it filled me with so much nostalgia for the Italian countryside. I actually studied abroad in a neighbouring province (Arezzo) to Orvieto and I can attest to the landscape and architecture is as described in this novel. And the photo I used is actually one I took a decade ago while on that trip, but on the island of Capri. 

Thank you so much @stmartinspress and @netgalley for a gifted copy of this gem. I loved Reckless Girls by the same author, so I was delighted when my arc application was accepted for this one—and it did not disappoint! 

*A note on the reading format: I did read this book half as an ebook and half on audio, and while both formats were good, I think I preferred it in ebook form, as I wasn’t a huge fan of Mari’s narrator. That being said, Julia Whelan is one of the narrators in this cast, so for those of you who are a fan of hers, you might want to pick up the audio version based on that alone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Chronic illness, Murder, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Blood, Drug use, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Terminal illness

noladawnreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

sleeson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

Yay! Rachel Hawkins is back. Usually when I read a novel that has past and present timelines, I enjoy one timeline far more than the other. With this novel, I found myself happy with both. I felt this leaned more on the mystery side than her usual genre of thriller.
Both of the main characters, Mari and Emily, are equally brilliant. There is moderate sexual content. Moderate mention of recreational drugs. Side note: The transcript of the true crime podcast is hilariously accurate. Hawkins was spot on with the tone for podcast listeners. Millennials behind the microphone all day. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Child death, Grief, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Infidelity

mindyleereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.**

If you love a book set in gorgeous Italy, the 70's and its sex/drugs/rock-and-roll vibes, and one heck of a thrilling story - this is 100% for you. PLUS there was a bit of mixed-media and I am a sucker for a book with some articles or other things like that thrown in for additional context. 

Rachel Hawkins did an amazing job creating a lush background and interesting characters. While the book starts off a bit slow, you are thrown into two story-lines both with friendships unravelling and mysteries afoot. I don't want to say much more as I don't want to give anything away. When I get excited, I tend to spoil things - just read this. You won't regret it!

Houses remember.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Miscarriage, Abortion, Child death, Suicide, and Cancer

reading_beyond_the_book_cover's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

5.0

Rachel Hawkins’, The Villa is an unforgettable and unputdownable tale of women, their influence on each other, and the men in their lives. Written across two timelines, set in the same location with a dark history, both stories evoke speculation. A searing chain of events merges and unfolds, leading you to second guess people’s motives carefully clothed in the sweet and comforting guises of “care”, “love”, and “support.” It’s dark, unsettling, and exciting. And I adored it.

5/5, I recommend this book.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press , Rachel Hawkins, and NetGalley for an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for an honest review. My review/reaction is voluntary, all thoughts are mine and unbiased, and receiving the ARC does not influence my rating and/or recommendation.

Full Review: https://readingbeyondthebookcover.com/book-reaction-the-villa-by-rachel-hawkins/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent and Miscarriage