Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

139 reviews

aliyachaudhry's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War

kryfrh's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment

ttumbletree's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

bettysbookishworld's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Abandonment

apierlessbridge's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.25

Spooky and haunting and menacing but also beautiful and powerful, perfect for a grey day in October. I feel like this could've been called "A Study in Gaslighting". Effy just broke my heart and Preston....

He really was the anchor of the book for both Effy and me. He was like the solid, tender hold on reality. And also so sweet and nerdy. Love.

I'll be thinking about this one for a while. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

katyakat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and War

mythicsage's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, and War

alite428's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

leahcanread's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

booksalacarte's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.75

A Study in Drowning- 2.5⭐️ 2.75🌶️

YA Fantasy

Magical realism

Mid century ambiance

Coming of age

College setting

Underdog FMC

Visions

Ptsd

Paranormal

War

One bed

A Study in Drowning is a gothic coming of age story where the lines of fairytale and reality are blurred beyond recognition. It deals with the ideas of trauma, misogyny, prejudice, survivalism, and love.

The setting of a moldy, crumbling manor on the very edge of the sea was so vivid and a character in and of itself. I really liked the romanticism of how it was crumbling into the sea and the presented problem of what could save it. I wish there had been a little more background and world building. While it seemed to play such a prominent part in the story… everything was just vague enough that I was left disappointed. I would have preferred over-explaining.

I was captured by the ptsd and trauma that crafted the FMC’s journey, sharpening her as she went through opening herself up and telling her story. I love the idea that survival is brave… 

The MMC wasn’t your typical overbearing alpha whose only purpose is to save the day. But I was as annoyed with his explained intellectualism that ended up being his only personality trait. 

The chemistry between the two main characters wasn’t as palpable as possible. I think that there wasn’t enough tension to make the chemistry believable. I didn’t feel the irritable pull that comes with the bickering that happened throughout. Instead it felt like the FMC was too distracted by her perceptions of reality and her trauma to understand what what’s genuine attraction or not… In the end, while the romance wasn’t the main focus of the book, it took up way more space than it needed to… or maybe not enough? 

I didn’t enjoy the prejudice and bigotry that was represented in the FMC and played off as falling in love with someone who your society is against. It was so frequently brought up and used as an excuse for witty banter when she was really just disparaging the MMC for his race/ethicist…

I liked this book, but I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the Advanced eReader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism