Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

127 reviews

gvstyris's review against another edition

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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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rachelfayreads's review against another edition

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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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ranee_samaniego's review against another edition

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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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jayjayjers's review

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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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eva_jean's review against another edition

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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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readingduckling's review against another edition

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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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torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

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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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zulmiro's review against another edition

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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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javafenn's review against another edition

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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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zorazadiezahrah's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

shocking in the best ways 

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