Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

One of Us is Back by Karen M. McManus

32 reviews

lochnessvhs's review against another edition

4.0

I'm not sure if this is truly a 4-star book. I loved the last chapter so much with Addy at the beach. And maybe I'm nostalgic because this was my final book of 2023. Either way, I think it was a great end to my reading year, and I am thankful to Karen McManus for creating this crazy world.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Murder

kirstenpod_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Gun violence, Death, Kidnapping, and Confinement

Moderate: Stalking, Death of parent, and Violence

Minor: Infidelity and Toxic relationship

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

The characters are diverse in that there are LGBTQ+ characters. All characters feel very white, even though some of them may not be. This may just be an error in reading on my part or some sort of internalized stereotype however. 
This book starts as possibly the slowest and most boring book of the trilogy. The first forty percent of the book contains a lot of set up and very little suspense. The characters also feel like they should all be in their late twenties, even though two of them are in their late teens. They don't feel old in the way most other traumatized characters do either. They seem mostly unphased by the events of the last two books other than when there is an active threat. 
There are several potential antagonists being hinted at throughout the novel.  This is often a very nice technique however I felt the technique was a bit fumbled upon the reveal.

It winds up being none of them. It is two characters, one who shares a work place with one of our main characters and another character you lowkey forget exists until the reveal.

 
The world is also unrealistic in how it handles certain events

Owen being revealed to be complicit in the actions of Jared in book 2. The whole town just seems to shrug and go 'huh. okay.' The town also seems fine with revealed accusations that Jake's legal father killed his biological father.

There was also very unrealistic use of an ankle monitor. This is partially justified by the incompetence of the local police.

You have only a few minutes before the ankle monitor alerts the police of any potential tampering. Jake would have been found before he even had a chance to be missing.

 
The ending is a happy one with promises at a good future for all of them. Well for everyone who survives. Hooray for therapy!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Confinement, Car accident, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gun violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Addiction, and Alcoholism

Minor: Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Toxic relationship

Drug use due to the drugging and kidnap of several characters, past and present. There is also mild discussion of the nonconsensual recording of characters during sex acts.

16kneidels's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Grief, Body horror, Car accident, Child death, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Outing, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Infidelity, Homophobia, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, and Violence

zayra2's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Alcoholism

Minor: Toxic relationship

maca_vr's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Body horror, and Blood

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Drug use

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Murder

saraavowlerr's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, and Death

styxx's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Gun violence

whosgina's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death, Murder, and Blood

Moderate: Stalking and Infidelity

Minor: Cancer and Alcoholism