Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

56 reviews

nporter5's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

I’m in awe of this book. ACAB, always, but 5/5 read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Murder, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Rape

thewellreadmrs's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Child abuse, Confinement, Stalking, Blood, Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape

I was so happy that the man stayed locked up in the shed and didn’t save them in the end. The women saved themselves. No savior needed.

bek67's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Audiobook, I finished it in 24 hours. The narrator was great. Really enjoyed how the story unfolded. I could not give it 5 stars because- SPOILER ALERT HERE.....

I did struggle with the inability of the characters to dispatch the twisted sick ba$tard that caused all the pain when the perfect opportunity presented itself. Of course, I haven't been in that situation but you've got a shotgun in your hand and KNOWING he is going to kill you or take you back to lock you up and you don't shoot him? Instead you discharge the shotgun multiple times by shooting at the wall and ceiling, NOT HIM! Then you are out of bullets??!?!?! IDK, maybe she was worried about hitting Wylie too but that was not discussed. Becky risked everything to save her daughter and herself and then did not take the chance when given. Inconceivable, especially when you've got a young child to protect.

  Hence, 4 stars instead of 5 but I would highly recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Gun violence

Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual violence

Audiobook, I finished it in 24 hours. The narrator was great. Really enjoyed how the story unfolded. I could not give it 5 stars because- SPOILER ALERT HERE..... (spoiler) I did struggle with the inability of the characters to dispatch the twisted sick ba$tard that caused all the pain when the perfect opportunity presented itself. Of course, I haven't been in that situation but you've got a shotgun in your hand and KNOWING he is going to kill you or take you back to lock you up and you don't shoot him? Instead you discharge the shotgun multiple times by shooting at the wall and ceiling, NOT HIM! Then you are out of bullets??!?!?! IDK, maybe she was worried about hitting Wylie too but that was not discussed. Becky risked everything to save her daughter and herself and then did not take the chance when given. Inconceivable, especially when you've got a young child to protect. Hence, 4 stars instead of 5 but I would highly recommend this book.

emeraldsanto's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism

chailady's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Murder

kt2e56's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Fairly compelling! Definitely a page turner! I think this fell victim though to the problem I have with most thrillers lately: the author is so wrapped up in preserving their big reveal at the end that a lot of the description about characters feels pretty bland or nonexistent outside of the flashbacks to the past. It’s extra infuriating here because some of these reveals are very easy to guess and the reader picking up on them ahead of time wouldn’t really hinder the book all that much. The characters all feel very lifeless and sort of blend together.

The ending also felt a bit rushed but the plot itself does make up for that. It’s certainly entertaining.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Car accident, Confinement, Murder, Sexual assault, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit, Cursing, Alcoholism, Excrement, Medical trauma, Drug use, Drug abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Stalking

huetepl's review against another edition

tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Gun violence, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

sarahmaemae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Confinement, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Car accident, and Death

kellyreadingbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

I really enjoyed this one! Especially since it was a multi-timeline thriller, and though I tend to only like two POV's, I did really enjoy all 4 and found it easy to understand via audiobook! I really liked the writing and the atmosphere. The downfall for me is this was a little too formulaic and I found myself seeing through all the twists. I was actually waiting for one more twist at the end that never came. 

We are just going to leave Jackson in the tool shed and not use that as a fun plot device?

I think this was more of a character study thriller than a plot heavy thriller but I enjoyed the ride for sure!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Gun violence

Minor: Vomit and Car accident

icieri's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Blood, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy