Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Idol by Louise O'Neill

34 reviews

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

contemporarymeepsie's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-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

4.0

Samantha Miller is a lifestyle guru, with millions of Instagram followers dedicated to praising her every move. But when she writes an essay about a formative sexual experience with her childhood best friend, her life take a turn when that ex-best friend emails her agent to say that isn't how she remembers it happening.
I enjoyed this book overall. I found the themes dark but very interesting. The protagonist, Sam, is famous for her work around the #MeToo movement saying all victims should be believed. But what happens when a victim claims SHE was the abuser? Who's truth is the real truth? That is such an interesting theme to write about and the author did such an incredible job of writing a dislikable character who gradually gets more and more manipulative as the story progresses. I tend to like unreliable narrators so this book was on for a winner, however there is a little bit of an unrealistic heel turn at the end. Which didn't sit right with me, which is why it dropped a point. I think it could have been polished a bit more to make the whole thing more believable and comprehensive. But overall I enjoyed my time with this book and I might read it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Addiction

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, and Body shaming

Minor: Gaslighting, Dementia, and Abortion

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

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

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

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

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