Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

54 reviews

garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

4.25

This was a surprisingly deep book, as the fmc is dealing with the trauma and after effects of an abusive relationship while also trying to start a new romance. From my non-survivor perspective, I thought it treated the issues well, and with accuracy. All the trigger warnings though, we really are in her head as she is trying to cope.

Single POV, 1st person, fmc. Fmc is Black/mixed, mmc is white.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting, Stalking, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Minor: Racism, Alcohol, Racial slurs, and Vomit

The sexual assault tag is for

a beginning attempt that is unsuccessful. It is implied that there was assault in the past but we don't get any details.

lucyhargrave's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

3.0

This was hard to rate because its a very quick and easy read but it covers some serious and dark topics - namely dosmetic abuse. The heroine, Naya, is still emotionally and mentally recovering from a previously abusive relationship when she meets the hero, Jake, and of course that has an impact on her developing relationship with Jake. Then her previously abusive boyfriend Davis comes back into her life and immediately starts the toxic behaviour from before. So I enjoyed it, I liked Jake and Naya as a couple - their relationship without all the external issues was easy and natural. But I doubt I'll re-read it due to the dosmetic abuse storyline.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Infidelity and Racism

kfmcf's review against another edition

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

4.25

MAJOR CW for gaslighting, emotional abuse, and a toxic relationship

I read this way back in '21 when I was first getting into contemporary romance as a genre and thought it was pretty good. Honestly, reading it again, I really enjoyed it. I think in my last read, I had just come off of reading some of my all time favs (The Kiss Quotient, PYMoV, etc.) and it warped my views of the book a bit. 

I really enjoyed the chemistry of the two characters and what they were dealing with. I appreciated the single POV as we really were able to invest in time with Naya and understand what she was feeling with Jake and appreciating him as a character (though...I don't know why the name Jake just doesn't work for him imo for some reason). 

Normally when I see characters communicating over text or email or whatever I skim really hard, but the interactions between Naya & Jake over text was fun and cute. I don't know, friends, something about these two just hit for me rn. 

The drama with Davis gets a little over dramatic and he was cartoonishly evil at some points, but having gone through an emotionally abusive relationship myself, sometimes it is just like that. 

I'm reading The Fastest Way to Fall and Technically, Yours right now for book club and I'm...not happy there was a shift from single POV. I think Denise Williams is stronger in single based off of this book, but I'll reserve judgment for those books until I'm finished.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racism, Violence, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, and Cursing

megnut's review

emotional hopeful 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

3.75

Both main characters have been hurt by previous partners... but the abuse by Naya's ex weighs heavily on her part of the story. 
There's a happy ending, but it's an emotional struggle to make it there. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Bullying, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting

annahamburger's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Vomit, Alcohol, Cursing, Stalking, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Infidelity, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

lindsm94's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

2.5

I found this book really slow and even though the characters are relatable, I just could not get into the story. I think it had a good ending with the main character standing up for herself and finding her voice.  It is written really well, but not for me. Also trigger warning for domestic violence 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Misogyny, Vomit, and Gaslighting

ms_emily's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

rickireadss's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

WOW WOW WOW. this is my second book by denise and definitely my favorite!! nia and jake just felt so real. like they were imperfect characters, their reactions to certain situations was just so human, and i loved them for it. i honestly wouldn’t change a thing about this book. each of their pasts made me cry ngl - especially nia’s. they were just so cute with each other - the back and forth was so funny and had me giggling and smiling while listening. the spice was phenomenal - jake could GET IT. 

⚠️: domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, toxic relationship (fmc and her ex), gaslighting, misogyny, sexual assault (attempted), sexual harassment (workplace), racism, stalking, panic attacks/disorders, infidelity (not mcs), vomit

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Sexual assault

Minor: Misogyny, Racism, and Infidelity

theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted tense 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

A love story that all started with a failed one night stand. It was cute and witty, but also frustrating when characters simply don’t speak openly with each other. But alas, there needs to be conflict. 

This book surprisingly contained a lot of heavy stuff. I definitely do not recommend this book be read by l anyone that would have problems with any of the content warnings—and there are a lot—but  to others who can safely ride along on this rollercoaster of emotions, I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing

Minor: Vomit

jenna36's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.0

I was not a huge fan of the way the final conflict played out (mostly because I can be pretty touchy about the subject matter), but other than that I thought this was quirky, sweet, and well worth the read. I am a big fan of how she developed the romance in a very real way, as well as how the characters actually felt like adults and acted their age. I will definitely be looking into other books by this author in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Misogyny

The romance in the book is not toxic or abusive. The content warnings are for someone in her past.