Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

163 reviews

library_kb's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad 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

5.0

I really loved this book--first off, Anna and Quan are fantastic characters--the way that they worked to get over their own hurdles together was so satisfying to read about. I would say Anna takes a more central role in the story--and there is definitely some tough stuff that goes down. The way the book was written puts you so close to the characters and their struggles and thoughts that it is important to check content warnings--however if you are at a time to handle the content, highly recommend this story, for some it will validate their own experiences and other it will open eyes to what navigating life as an autistic woman can feel like. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Ableism

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse

helfire124's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Cancer

lost_windsock's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This book. This book had me so full of feels. I was absolutely furious for Anna. The way her family treated her, and the way she felt trapped in her own mind, unable to say no, was devastating to sit through. I wanted to jump into the pages and shout NO for her! It was truly heartbreaking to see that no one would listen to her. Except Quan. Sweet, loving, caring Quan. What a journey he'd been through between the second book and this one. Quan was always one of my favorite characters, and while his story had a painful tinge in this book, it was still just perfectly him to be there for Anna and learn to trust himself again. This book made me feel so many things, and I just could not have loved it more. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

mswarning's review against another edition

emotional 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

This book was pretty different from the two in the series. It's definitely more serious and less.. contemporary romance? Anna's family and her father's in-home hospice care completely take over the book. My heart broke for her, and I can only imagine how difficult it would be stand up for yourself with the pressure/family dynamics like hers.

I really expected Priscilla to have a hand in the deal going sour between MLA and LVMH. I was relieved that Hoang did not take that route with the family backstabbing. In the second book, Quan traveled to New York for work. And then Priscilla works there and has a LV purse. My mind definitely tried to make connections that weren't there.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

jadejade's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

The final book in this series is noticeably less light-hearted from the first two books but I loved it all the same. In particular, I appreciated the portrayal of the incapacitation or death of the head of the family leading to a permanent change to the family dynamic, potentially even destroying family relationships. I'm glad I read this now, when I needed an exploration of this subject, when I needed reassurance that it's not just in my head.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Bullying, and Grief

Minor: Infertility, Excrement, Infidelity, and Medical content

melonpea's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad 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? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

kcrutch's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Cancer

lingoreads's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Vomit

loquitacass's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Medical trauma, Medical content, Ableism, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Excrement

Minor: Vomit

annie_tonk's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Grief, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness