Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

103 reviews

magneticornot's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.5

Clearly lovingly researched, with the historically linked sections far and away the most compelling and well written. 
I liked the bones of the story, but the character interactions seem rushed. Like they are jumping straight to important moments to hit certain beats in order to move the story along, but without many of the emotions really feeling justified or coming through for me. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy

cskinner's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

This book was just hard to love. It seemed to start out promising; the characters felt like they were close to being something interesting and the story had intrigue, but after about 25% in, some veil of artificiality never really lifted for me on the characters and dialogue. I enjoyed the parts about the past much more than the ones about the present. I think I was expecting more focus on some of the mystical elements of this book and it fell short for me. It also had long stretches of dark and depressing events, which I can be ok with, but here, I wasn’t, because they led to little payoff in character development or advancing the plot. Overall, I liked the concept, the dual timeline, and some of the themes, but it wasn’t very enjoyable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Classism

girrllie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

It started off with a good premise but then got soooo boring. I barely finished it and skimmed most of the last third.  The character’s  choices didn’t hold together for me. I was expecting a fun story with a little magical element and instead got secondary trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

The interpersonal violence was super high and traumatic.

kirstym25's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicide and War

jessversteeg's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Unique plot, very creative! I enjoyed the rare books aspect and the investigation of the old stories 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicide

major themes of domestic abuse and forced institutionalization.

alysha714's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

trippalli's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

An excellent historic fiction. I appreciate it how they brought light to the women being put in seeing this albums when they spoke up or independent and brought to light the issues with arranged marriages and abusive marriages and how difficult it is to get away from it. Abusive relationship was interesting how they went back and forth between the two time periods and the what lives of those two people being interwoven

I don't think the story had a lot of surprises but it was well written and engaging story. I didn't want to put it down till it was done and I got invested in the people, characters and their goals and outcomes during the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

galadriel07's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and War

allisonleslie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Went into this book with no idea what it was about and wow I loved it. The perfect combination of mixed storylines, magic, mystery and incredibly intriguing character lives. Wish I got a little more clear explanation of all things at the end but thought it all tied together so nicely. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and War

stellarstar's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Creative, magical plot. There are times when the plot is a bit unclear. I thought it a bit much, that most of the women characters were abused at some point in their lives. Loved the magical touches. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse