Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Idol by Louise O'Neill

87 reviews

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

zummins's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

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

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

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

stephanienguy's review

dark tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault

dlsmk's review against another edition

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

1.5

I hated this. I think that was the point but it was also just a slog. Not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

unamariex's review

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

4.0

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and thought it pulled off the unreliable narrator really well, it kept me compelled and guessing at what the true story was right up until the end. I thought it dragged a bit in the middle, but the ending brought me back around - it took me by surprise and left me with a little satisfied evil smile on my face!! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

MC reminds me a bit of Rachel Hollis and Gwyneth Paltrow 😅

The beginning was great but then it slowed down around the 50 page mark, and the novel  started dragging making me lose interest. I tried for another 60 pages before finally giving in. Both characters are unlikeable and I don’t mind that but then I need something to keep me invested, and the plot wasn’t doing that.

There’s a lot of telling instead of showing with overly descriptive details causing the story to drag. After looking at reviews, knowing everything that happens isn’t worth the read and I found spoilers which helped confirm I would’ve ended up hating it 🙈 another case of great premise, not so great execution (because I love reading about complicated, dark influencers/the dangers of social media)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Eating disorder and Abortion