Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

163 reviews

kaekaeunicorn99's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

I cried when it ended, it was beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

rosieisreading's review against another edition

mysterious reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child death

nooks_cranny's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

3.75

I thought it was going to be a cozy read but it turned out darker than I thought. It was a good book to pass the time, I didn’t really feel any attachment to any character aside from Madame Bowden. I would love to know more about her but that would ruin the fun and mystery. I also didn’t know I would learn tiny snippets about Irish history

especially concerning the German soldiers

.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Grief, Confinement, Abandonment, War, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Murder, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Ableism

okiecozyreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

THE LOST BOOKSHOP started off very much like I expected. There is a vanishing bookshop that only a few have seen, and the back story of how the bookshop existed. In the current day, Martha works at Shakespeare and Company and retreats to Dublin after her husband is abusive. There she meets Madame Bowden, who is looking for a housekeeper. Henry is looking to solve the mystery of Emily Brontë’s missing manuscript, and Opaline tells us her story of her bookshop, the men who swindled her and how she persevered.

I loved all the bookish references - the magical bookshop, the Mont Blanc Le Petit Prince pen (which I didn’t know existed, but what a fun surprise p76-77), and all of the books (Normal People by Sally Rooney) and quotes. This book does go to some dark places in the ways that women are treated by men. It took me a while to keep track of who everyone was and how they were related but I was glad I stuck with it. 

“In the story, there was a young woman who came to the library, miles away from her true home. She read a story about a girl who had come to a fork in the road and was so afraid of making the wrong decision that she stayed where she was, huddled in the hollow of a tree. After several days, an old woman came along and told her a riddle. She asked, 'What is something you create, even if you do nothing?' The answer was a choice.
Choosing not to do something was still a choice.” P143

“It is strange how seemingly inconsequential conversations suddenly take on the mantle of fate and destiny when cast in a new light.” P253

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Violence, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

vtorres123's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcoholism

empheliath's review against another edition

There was SO MUCH violence against women! Domestic violence, women being beaten, imprisoned by hateful family members, kidnapped. I couldn't take it anymore. Book descriptions led me to believe this was a cozy bookshop mystery. If I'd been warned about the violent content I'd never have picked it up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, Abandonment, and Sexism

ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

2.75

Liked the dual timeline but did not understand the attraction between any of the love interests. A lot happens plot-wise in a very short time and it didn't always make sense to me how characters acted. I would have preferred if the author explored the inner workings of the characters more rather stumbling from one tragic event to the next.
If you don't want to read about certain topics consult the trigger warnings as this book is quite dark.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Mental illness, Classism, Pregnancy, Murder, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: War

heathere19's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I like it, but it was not what I was expecting. I think the bookshop that is mentioned in the synopsis is more of a metaphor and theme for the story. It was the backdrop for the real story. But it was a cute little found family historical fiction. The plot gave Kate Morton vibes, but with less flowery language. Still a fun summer read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Misogyny

fancyjess_party's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Child death, Death of parent, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Self harm, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

kay_chan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

1.5

Based on the synopsis, this book was so disappointing. I was expecting a historical fiction with whimsical elements to it. What I got was 90% women's trauma, a sprinkling of magical element that wasn't explained whatsoever, and a hint of historical element when it pertains to classic books and their authors. 

I almost dnf'd this book three or four times because the topics are dark and not developed well within the characters. It was shock value for me because I wasn't expecting it and even though I managed to finish it to get to the kind of "HEA", I don't think it was worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Murder

Moderate: Medical trauma

Minor: War