Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

70 reviews

zabeishumanish's review

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

TW: this book deals heavily with the aftermath of intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, blackmail (revenge porn), workplace sexual harassment, and attempted sexual assault.  All of these issues are handled with tact and care and the book is focused on healing and moving forward.

my interest in sex had been non-existent for a long time. After my last relationship, I'd felt disconnected from my body, and I didn't trust anything that felt good. (12)

If men didn't see me, they couldn't hurt me. (22)

Naya and Jake are awesome together. Their combined nerdiness, the cheesy jokes, and the pure joy of their relationship were a delight to read. Naya is undeniably fragile and healing from start to finish of this book, but I appreciate that at no point did that diminish her capacity for joy and how much and if she chose to express it.

A unique aspect of this romance was how the characters chose to embark on a long-distance relationship. I think this is the first romance I've read where the couple needs at least one flight to see each other regularly. I've never been in a long-distance relationship so I can't say for certain how realistic the depiction of the relationship is, but all of the milestones in Naya and Jake's relationship felt extremely realistic to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Misogyny

miksbookpicks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

solacelight's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Racism, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Terminal illness and Infidelity

parton4proletariat's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse and Racism

Minor: Vomit

amarieb0926's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

3.75

I absolutely loved almost every bit of this book. I went in having read the trigger warnings and knowing to expect which I believe is important with this novel. Naya and Jake's relationship banter was absolutely perfect and thier inside jokes felt so real that I was laughing along with them the whole time. But there was one scene that really ruined the romance for me, causing me to take away a star.

Spoilers ahead:
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Whyyyyy did Williams need to have Jake admit his love in a moment of violence/aggression when his love interest is a victim of previous (and ongoing) abuse?! Yes, he only hit the doorframe and door, but he still did it. Naya deserves better than violent outbursts. He was perfection personified, and then that scene ruined everything for me. So disappointed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Racism

kb_sherman's review against another edition

As someone in academia, I’m increasingly uninterested in books that explore or transgress workplace boundaries.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infidelity

kaseybereading's review

challenging emotional funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

Minor: Infidelity and Vomit

linnypesto's review

emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Racism

maryashlyn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Sexual harassment

bgoodbookclub's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

I love how mature Naya & Jake's conversations are. One of the things that can annoy me in romance novels is when a couple doesn't communication so it was refreshing that they were always mostly open with each other.

I also love how Williams made Naya a powerful woman with a lot of respect in her industry. 

Each book of Williams's gets better? Can't wait for the new book she has coming out later on this year!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexual harassment