Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Idol by Louise O'Neill

60 reviews

becky_bo0p's review

challenging dark 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Abortion, and Rape

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

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

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

ilana_pop's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Oh my lord... Made me gasp several times.

People love a comeback, especially when it's a beautiful white woman. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Abortion, Gaslighting, Bullying, and Drug abuse

abbieuprooted's review

dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Gaslighting

jazzy_t's review

challenging dark tense fast-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

1.0

Would not recommend. Sam is a horrible, frustrating, manipulative character and it was hard to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Mental illness and Drug abuse

robynw1996's review

dark emotional 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Sexual assault, and Eating disorder