Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

35 reviews

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.

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

opplecopter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, Vomit, Confinement, Pedophilia, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, and Sexual assault

librasgroove's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Miscarriage

jkar7's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Gore, Police brutality, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Minor: Animal cruelty, Self harm, and Vomit

terrik_409's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.5

So taut and engaging, I couldn't stop reading. Love the way Gudenkauf seemingly has these discordant storylines that come together 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Blood, Torture, Rape, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Sexual violence

espressoreader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gun violence

Minor: Pedophilia, Murder, Torture, Rape, Sexual violence, and Miscarriage

chooper454's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Child death, and Car accident

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Vomit, Terminal illness, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Cancer

zthebibliophile's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

haleybre's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexual violence, Vomit, Rape, and Sexual assault