Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

128 reviews

amzthebookdevourer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I found the first half of the book to be excruciatingly slow at points, with excessive detail. However, I'm so glad I stuck with it as the second half was phenomenal! Secrets were revealed, tension was masterfully built, and the twists and turns were so unexpected. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer and Gun violence

Minor: Ableism, Incest, Suicide, Dementia, Cultural appropriation, and Infertility

gvstyris's review against another edition

dark 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

4.25

I wondered how many people there were in the world who suffered, and continued to suffer, because they could not break out from their own web of shyness and reserve, and in their blindness and folly built up a great distorted wall in front of them that hid the truth. 

Very unsure about how to rate this book. Rebecca has been on my mental TBR for years, primarily because of its enduring influence on other media I love (Gone Girl, even various Taylor Swift songs hahah), so my expectations were probably unfairly high. 

And, in many ways, they were met. I loved the Gothic setting and eerie tone, as well as the slow build of tension -- although I totally get where it'll bug other readers, given how long it takes to reach any action. Manderley is almost a character in-and-of-itself, which was super compelling, and du Maurier's prose really is gorgeous. I also really admired the shift in the narrator's voice throughout the novel as she lost her youthful naivety and grew into her role of 'Mrs de Winter.' 

Docking my rating over a couple things. I'm pretty unobservant and honestly really bad at guessing plot twists, but even I didn't find the main reveals in this novel particularly shocking or compelling. That's probably in part because Rebecca helped pioneer specific thriller tropes, and has influenced many more creative thrillers, but it still made for an underwhelming conclusion. I'm also not sure how I feel about the social commentary of the main reveals...

Maxim comes across a bit too favourably in the end, and Rebecca a bit cartoonish.

It definitely reminded me a bit of my misogynistic undertone qualms with Gone Girl.

I am glad it cannot happen twice, the fever of first love. For it is a fever, and a burden, too, whatever the poets may say. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Incest and Classism

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Infertility, and Suicide

rachelfayreads's review against another edition

emotional mysterious relaxing slow-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

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Toxic relationship

ranee_samaniego's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I was disappointed with this book. I have heard so many wonderful things about this classic, gothic novel. However, it was not nearly as suspensful as I hoped it would be. 

My biggest qualm with the novel was that the "romance" between Mr. and Mrs. de Winter was entirely unhealthy, manipulative, and nothing to be desired. I cannot stand to read a novel where the main female is constantly afraid of angering her partner, both of them pretending to be "ok" around others, and her desparately trying to making their relationship work while he keeps telling her that she should work harder at it all. That kind of story hits a bit too close to my personal trigger warnings. 

However, it could be said that Daphne du Maurier hit the nail on the head creating that kind of unhealthy romance, and that she was commenting on society.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Terminal illness

jayjayjers's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Death, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, and Grief

Minor: Terminal illness and Incest

eva_jean's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Incest and Infidelity

Minor: Terminal illness and Cultural appropriation

readingduckling's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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? No

4.0

A very hard read. The reason I read it was that this book was apparently the inspiration for Taylor Swifts "Tolerate it". 
I will definitely read it again, maybe the rating will be better then, but for now I think 4 stars are fitting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Cursing, Grief, Suicide, Medical content, Murder, Cancer, Alcohol, Classism, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness

Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy

zulmiro's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, Infidelity, Death, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, Ableism, Murder, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, and Incest

Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Classism, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Medical trauma

javafenn's review against another edition

mysterious tense 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

2.0

This book came highly recommended and maybe I’m just not smart enough for it because I hated it. It wasn’t really creepy like people have said and the characters were the most obnoxious people I’ve ever read about. When finally got to the end I was just mad. It was stupid. All of that mystery and no ghost?!?! No really mystery just a murder that was a murder and then people trying to throw others under the buss and the lady of the book just not named and not haunted?! Hated it. It was way too long for how it ended. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Misogyny, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Toxic relationship