Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

494 reviews

brittinyh3711's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

4-4.5 stars. I enjoyed this book. Had alot of laughs and swooning over Nate. But Aaron just made me so stinking mad that it made me like the book a bit less 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Violence, Vomit, and Pregnancy

hanven's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.0

SPOILER !!!


i liked the found family trope but i feel like the plot was lost somewhere along the way. anastasia got on my nerves at first but i did get over it.

also the ending also seemed a bit rushed like the author was just trying to think of a way to end it… like the pregnancy trope 😭😭😭 i don’t really mind it most times but it felt out of place so yea. overall i did enjoy reading this!l

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent

abby_can_read's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

📱
This was an interesting read. It took me a little to get into. While I had fun reading this, I do think this book is overhyped. I don't really know how good I think this book is. The characters were annoying though I did like them and the relationships were alright. I struggled with the writing style and I had difficulty following the plot. I felt the relationship was an odd combination of insta love then rivals/kinda enemies to lovers to friends to lovers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent

laviniawagner01's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

Great book. I loved how she got more and more confident. I loved the couples dynamic. It has many spicy scenes towards the end the story got the short end because the spicy scenes took up all the pages. In my opinion a pit less spice would have made the book a 5 stars. But that's just my opinion 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Eating disorder

marma906's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

meganpbennett's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

1.0

If this book had been about a hundred and fifty pages shorter, I might have liked it. I still would have found it completely overhyped, but I would have been far less disappointed.

The biggest issue is that there is basically no plot, and when the plot does finally kick in - 40% of the way through the book - it's somehow sidelined. Don't promise me something in the summary and then make me wait 210 pages for it. Because of this, the book dragged on. I found that it had far too much filler and not enough plot. It needed more hockey, more skating, and far less drinking and college students hooking up. On top of that, I found Anastasia to be a whiny and unlikable character. She didn't act like a college senior with Olympic aspirations, but a middle school girl. The book has a perfect set-up for a slow burn, not-quite enemies to lovers, and blew it by having no plot.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

msydd's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

maddysoup's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

if this would have had an editor it would have benefited so greatly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

nikimorr's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

A cute read that keeps it pretty light, only touching on some more serious topics. A good story for those that like sweet romances (with a touch of spice) and happy endings. 

I enjoyed the first part of the book the most - it is very nostalgic of college for those that are a bit older. I also enjoyed the anticipation of the “frenemies” to lovers build up (although this did happen very fast for this type trope).  I was definitely cheering for their love story by the end.  

My lower rating is primarily because this book is not particularly deep, especially in the area of character exploration. Although all of the characters have issues, they are mostly not thoroughly explored, perhaps with the idea of bringing these characters back in a series. Either way, I definitely was looking for more . SPOILERS - For example, Aaron is arguably the most complex character, but we learn almost nothing about him beyond some quick references to his family. Henry and Russ were also interesting with little background or information - Russ being unable to speak about himself and diminishing his worth; Henry being a bit all over the place - blunt, a worrier, a bit moody. We go through Anastasia’s character most in depth - her difficult relationship to food was both interesting and insightful. Anastasia’s promotion of therapy is also a wonderful addition and may have an Impact on the  mostly young adult readers thinking of going to therapy. 

In essence, if you want a quick, easy, and sweet read, this is a good option. Be prepared for spice to be a focus of the story, leaving little depth in many areas. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death of parent

justabnotherreader's review against another edition

lighthearted

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail