Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Idol by Louise O'Neill

55 reviews

oliviajames's review

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape

defo not what i was expecting

nineinchnails's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

this was so refreshing! i went into it knowing the general gist of the story (read the blurb so that’s on me) but it was still insane to watch unfold. the commentary on wellness culture and influencer cults was super interesting and combined with the unreliable narrator it was addictive to read.

i found myself

really rooting for the protagonist at one point - not because i supported her actions but because i wanted to believe she was innocent, or at least just flawed in the way all humans are flawed. she is undeniably a horrible person and that’s cemented by the end but there were moments in between where i was starting to genuinely believe her. for better or for worse

sam felt incredibly real and in parts gut wrenchingly relatable. i did find the ending a little unsatisfying because

i felt like the story had been gearing up to show us how evil (privileged) people usually do get away with being monsters and end up thriving in the spotlight,

however i can see how some would prefer the ending as it is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Abandonment, Abortion, Bullying, Drug abuse, and Infidelity

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Infertility, Death of parent, Dementia, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Bulimia and Overdose

sorkka's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Stalking

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Addiction, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual violence

pippahawkins's review

challenging dark tense 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Abortion, Abandonment, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Bullying, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

ccassidy98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Rape

Moderate: Drug abuse and Vomit

silverspur's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I'm in two minds about this book as it had some really interesting concepts about truth and our perceptions of what really happens. It made me think about Plato's Allegory of the Cave in some ways.

None of the characters were likeable and I didn't love the influencer aspect although I recognise why it was used in the plot. I like an unreliable narrator sometimes and I enjoyed the time jumps back and forth. 

Overall, I enjoyed it whilst simultaneously feeling quite uncomfortable. Not sure I'd necessarily recommend it to a friend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Rape, Eating disorder, and Abortion

luxxltyd's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Vomit, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Addiction and Drug use

Minor: Body shaming

abbie_davis_'s review

adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Abortion, and Rape

andreapepsii's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Gaslighting

Moderate: Vomit, Abortion, Drug abuse, and Eating disorder

madelinedalton'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

2.5

This book is about a person who manages to

alter their memories as a means of self-protection

and the consequences that follow. But it goes no deeper than that. I wanted to truly know why is the way she is and explore the topic with much more depth. Instead, we had an unreliable protagonist being a hot mess and ruining everyone else’s lives around her. 

This would have been a page-turner with better pacing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Addiction