Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Compound by Aisling Rawle, Aisling Rawle

7 reviews

breanne's review against another edition

3.75

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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I used to watch reality tv in the mid 2000s (survivor, the challenge, ANTM, real world) so I was nervous this would be too similar to newer more somewhat scripted shows and wouldn't enjoy it as much. there was some of that performance element as contestants are pushed into dislikable actions, but it was interesting to learn about Lily's justification for her seemingly frivolous actions. this is the first reality show book that I have found to combine what I love and hate about both survival and romance reality tv. the ending just left me wanting more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence

Moderate: Sexual content

soobooksalot's review against another edition

4.5

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol

kirstenpod_'s review against another edition

3.0

dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Classism

Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Excrement, Stalking, War

unhingedbookbitch's review against another edition

3.5

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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My first reaction? Love Island, but make it post-apocalyptic. Basically what the next season will look like once society fully collapses. Honestly, I was into it. Two of my life goals are 1) become a reality TV icon and 2) survive the end times, so this felt like a two-for-one special.

I usually enjoy speculative reality TV stories with ambiguous endings, but this book kind of gave... entry-level. Like if I were grading it, I’d give it a C+—solid concept, some interesting themes, but the execution felt like it ran out of budget halfway through.

You can tell the author wanted to explore real issues—racism, misogyny, homophobia in reality TV—and I respect the attempt. For example, there’s a moment where the only Black woman expresses concern she’ll be paired with the only Black man just because they match skin tones. Real! Valid! And then… nothing. The moment just vanishes like someone said “racism exists” and then sat back down like it was handled.

Same with the queerness angle—there are a couple characters who express same-gender attraction, and the show’s fear of it is noted, but again… the narrative just throws a tarp over it and walks away. Like—are we confronting this or what?? If you’re gonna invite the elephant into the room, either talk to her or give her snacks. Don’t just let her hover awkwardly in the corner like a middle school substitute teacher.

It felt like watching someone go, “Look! A cockroach!” and then do nothing. Not stomp it, not spray it, not even trap it under a cup. Just letting it vibe out. And no offense to cockroach truthers, but I grew up with flying ones the size of small birds, so I do not play like that.

You get what I’m saying? The problems were pointed at, but never actually handled. It’s like if the book said, “This man is a misogynist,” and then expected me to give it a standing ovation for noticing. Like… yes?? Correct?? But now what??

Final Verdict:
This book had the bones of something great, but never really put meat on them. It felt like it wanted to be deep but got distracted by hot people making out in the apocalypse—and hey, same, but I needed a little more follow-through. Would I watch this as a Netflix show at 1 a.m. with a snack I’m ashamed of? Absolutely. Would I reread it? Probably not unless the world actually ends and I need something to barter with.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Dysphoria, War

jessicajernigan's review against another edition

4.0

dark funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This is just a very weird and creepy book, and I mean that in the best way possible. I guess I would categorize it as reality show dystopia? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

lauren_lovestoread's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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OMG what a book! This was such a unique story! I read the majority of it in one day.
Following the contestants of this dystopian-esque Love Island-meets-Lord-of-the-Flies reality show through the narrator, Lily’s, POV is incredibly gripping. The author keeps you guessing with what is happening next, and the tension between the characters builds so quickly and only made me read faster. The lengths some of them go to in order to win were horrifying and I could not look away.  My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed, and somewhat anticlimactic. Really solid sci-fi horror novel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse

Minor: Infidelity

sam_likes_books21's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail