Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

16 reviews

csimonsensays's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Grief, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Violence

anusplugger's review

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This story was truly heartbreaking to read and to know that these were true events were frightening. There are people out there who are like Shelly out in the world living without facing any consequences for their sadistic actions and it's so sickening . My heart goes out to all of the victims and victims family who were involved in all of this. There were moments in the story where I got frustrated with the victims because I kept thinking this was all fictional, but I had to take a deep breath to remember that these were true events. And if I were in their shoes, I myself would have done the same as them. However some people in the story should have been more involved and should have taken more action.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Self harm, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Suicide attempt

serenaann's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Abandonment, Child death, Sexual violence, Violence, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Vomit, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Addiction, Cursing, Excrement, Medical trauma, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Gun violence

bhahnert's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Child abuse, Body horror, Stalking, Cursing, Child death, Homophobia, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

spookysierra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Gaslighting, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Addiction, and Violence

asmokeybear's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Cursing, Confinement, Drug use, Torture, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Excrement, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

twistykris's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

3.75

The abuse and torture so many endured at the hands of Shelly (and Dave) is absolutely horrific. A very difficult read for the content involved (PLEASE check trigger/ content warnings).

I understand how difficult it must have been to compile all of this information from multiple people, but at times the book felt very repetitive and used a lot of unnecessary metaphors. 

Also, I have

VERY little sympathy for Dave. Yes, he was abused by Shelly and being a victim of someone so terrifying can alter your mentality, I know. But you CANNOT tell me he didn't know that what she was doing was so fucking wrong. He literally shot and killed his own nephew because she told him to. He watched his wife abuse her children and grown adults. He says he didn't know bleach was bad for the skin and thought it was fine that Shelly made Ron soak his feet in boiling water and bleach?? HUH?! And the fact they're both OUT AND FREE? Disgusting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism and Animal cruelty

cfarron's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Homophobia, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Murder

kinsbows's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Rape, Mental illness, Drug use, Death, Confinement, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Sexual assault, Self harm, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Bullying

shelbyglover's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.25

Though well written, I found this book extremely difficult to read given it is a true story. It hooked me at the start and was very fast paced. About the halfway point, I contemplated abandoning the book due to its graphic content. It's extremely heavy. I truly could not believe some of the things I read.  However I powered through the book in hopes for the best outcome possible for their situation. Overall the book was a good read. Not the best thing I've ever read but If you enjoy true crime this would be up your ally. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Violence, Death, Blood, Body shaming, Gun violence, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Child death, Murder, Gore, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Self harm, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Torture

Moderate: Cancer