Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Idol by Louise O'Neill

4 reviews

clairew97's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

0.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Grief, Addiction, Abortion, Chronic illness, Dementia, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

charlottefannon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Cursing, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Stalking, Addiction, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse

Minor: Dementia

madelinequinne's review

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I picked this book up on a whim and i’m so glad i did! i wasn’t expecting much, i thought it was just going to be your run of the mill adult thriller based on the cover, but it was so tense and really makes you reflect on how we view celebrities! it was a great view into the minds of people who commit assualt and how they’re not all these faceless monsters of men who creep in dark alleyways, they can be people who we trust and look up to and who’s persona convinces you that they could never commit an act as horrible as rape. 

I’m obsessed with books that have unreliable narrators, and this one is a perfect example of it. I spent a lot of time switching between believing Sam and her story to questioning that maybe everything isn’t what it’s made out to be and she’s perhaps not as innocent as she’d like people to believe. From big things like whether that night with Lisa was assualt to whether her parents sent her away or if she chose to go to Utah herself, all these twisted tales add up to make her a perfect unreliable narrator. 

I was often reminded of Pretty Little Liars whilst reading this book. The unknown online troll and the ‘popular girl in high school being an awful person’ trope has very similar vibes to that show, and I feel like Samantha is what Allison would have been like as an adult if the writers of PLL hadn’t completely ruined her character. 

I heavily recommend this book if you’re looking for something that will keep you hooked, though i advise checking trigger warnings because there’s a lot of heavy stuff discussed 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Abortion, Eating disorder, Rape, and Stalking

Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent

taleofabibliophile's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Abortion, Sexual content, Cursing, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Rape, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Fatphobia and Vomit

Minor: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Cancer, Medical content, Dementia, and Self harm