Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Idol by Louise O'Neill

17 reviews

pernillelsk's review

dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Abortion, Addiction, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Bullying

Moderate: Mental illness

0ldoini's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Rape, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abortion, Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Fatphobia

Minor: Dementia, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

hippiequeen's review

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Such a catchy and dark novel, it had me hooked and quite often twisted my guts. At first, I was rooting for Sam, but then oh god, it seemed like everyone was just soaking in darkness in this story. I guess it’s the beauty of Louise O’Neill’s writing; I have been reading her stories since I was 18 and they have helped immensely with dealing with my own traumas. This book is not for those who can be triggered by a number of things, so I would recommend being careful, but overall it’s such an amazingly written book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, Forced institutionalization, and Dementia

ellamycroft's review

dark slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Death of parent

ntsha's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and Bullying

Moderate: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Addiction, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Grief, Mental illness, Stalking, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Infidelity

kellyung's review

challenging dark mysterious sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Dysphoria, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Abortion, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse

becca_thegrimreader's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Examining influencer culture, the wellness industry, consent, and abuse of power, Louise O’Neill does not hold back. The main character of this book, Samantha Miller, is a successful woman who earns her living by telling her followers how to live their lives better. After a piece on a sexual experience with her best friend Lisa when they were teenagers her life begins to unravel. Samantha views that night as an intimate moment, Lisa remembers it as something she didn’t consent to.

This is a book that I have been thinking about for a few days since finishing. It is a dark and unflinching novel at times, and it was one that made me feel very uncomfortable at times. I think that this was due to Samantha, someone who reminds me of Alix from “Such a Fun Age.” She is manipulative and selfish, caring only about her career and her reputation. She dismisses the allegations against her almost instantly and tries to force this opinion on everyone else. Lisa is equally as unreliable, and has herself suffered through traumatic experiences. We examine their intense childhood friendship, jealousy, and bitterness. Having two women at the centre of this novel was interesting.

This was a timely novel with its focus on influencer and cancel culture. We see how tenuous it is to be an influencer, and how quickly the world can turn on them. We see how Samantha has shaped her life story so that she stands out from the other wellness influencers. When the allegations are made public we watch how everyone in the background comes out in force to save Samantha’s public image, not because they believe her but because of the money they have invested.

This is a book that will have you gripped from the first page.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Abortion