Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Maid by Nita Prose

101 reviews

elderwoodreads's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.75

I struggled with how to rate this. I loved the premise and initially loved Molly but I felt like she very quickly became a caricature (think Amelia Bedelia). The story relied mostly on Molly not picking up social cues/situations but then other times she understood things that seemed to be more metaphorical than what she normally understood. Regarding the ending

I think this could have been a 3.25 if the book stopped at the end of chapter 24 when Rodney is being arrested while Molly is in the cafe, I really thought that was the end and was shocked when it kept going. I also feel like the scene of Molly killing her grandmother was so out of place and very sinister given that Nan tried to stop her and she kept going. Very weird tone wise for a book with such a candy sweet ending. Don't get me started on the nonsense romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use and Domestic abuse

Minor: Deportation, Cursing, Blood, and Violence

sierrabowers's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.0

I thought this was a great read. The main character obviously is on the spectrum and since you are reading from her point of view, it sheds light on how certain situations can become dangerous. people on the spectrum can have difficulties in social situations which is exactly how Molly became framed for murder. I really liked this story because it shows the flaws in the justice system relating to people with disabilities. It also has a twist at the end, but I thought it could have been executed better. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Classism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Ableism, Gaslighting, Racism, Abandonment, Addiction, and Grief

ofarkas's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Cursing

shesflippinpages's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Deportation, Terminal illness, Cancer, Physical abuse, Grief, Murder, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Addiction, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail

sarahrcb's review

hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

1.5

I wanted to like this book, but honestly, the way that Molly was depicted really gave me the ick. Her whole thing is that she is clearly autistic, but instead of actually acknowledging her autism, the author leaned into some very demeaning autistic stereotypes, and the character was constantly infantilized by both the author and the other characters within the story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Death of parent, Deportation, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Minor: Terminal illness, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

styxx's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Grief, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

emma_sky's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Torture, and Classism

drnaynay's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Ableism, Bullying, Classism, Sexism, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

curiosityp's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0

I loved how detailed Molly's explanations were that others wouldn't usually share = meticulousness in her descriptions.
I appreciated the medium pacing of the plot, the writing style, and the happy ending.
I learned that the spelling of "just deserts" is correct even though it is pronounced like 'desserts' because it comes from the French word meaning 'to deserve'.
And I liked the neurodivergent representation, even if it's rather male-stereotypical and not typical of how autism presents in females in real life.

I felt VERY uncomfortable reading about the fictional negative life experiences that closely resemble my own.  As a neurodivergent person, I too have misread people's intentions, misread kindness for romantic interest, not understood what was so different about me that would cause peers to bully me, and been excluded from social events.

I was originally going to rate this a 3 because I was *that* uncomfortable with the horrible, opportunistic characters that take advantage of Molly's innocence and lack of social understanding.  But if I focus more on the written execution of the excellent murder mystery plot and solution, It's a very well-done book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Murder, and Death

ksamaine95's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

Loved Miss Molly. What a delightful complex character. In the middle I was slightly annoyed by the lack of interest in “big event” itself. But great payoff. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Ableism