Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe

39 reviews

bealittlebrave's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, and Death

ifoundcallie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Wow! Loved this book. A few loose ends left me wondering why they were introduced in the first place like

Olive being their safe phrase—was it Lee’s first “girl” name? Grey cap being an ex-fed or some other info Lee said making him rage—why did we not get the robbers’ stories? The man who was shot—did he die?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Murder, Pedophilia, and Cursing

Minor: Chronic illness, Bullying, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Vomit, Rape, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Car accident

Most information about SA is discussed using coded phrases or intentionally vague references that the reader can fill the blanks in with. Sharpe did a good job of handling this tastefully while still not shying away from the reality and effects of such abuse

hannahthemartian's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Rape

drlove2018's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, and Confinement

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

Minor: Gore, Alcoholism, Rape, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, and Vomit

erinbrenner's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

This book immediately grabbed me. I liked finding out more about Nora's past throughout the book's present in the order that best served the current moment. But I was often frustrated with not knowing how old she was and how two periods connected. I was most way through the book before understanding she was 17 or 18. I didn't always know how old she was in past episodes, making the story confusing at times. The story and characters were enjoyable but I'm not sure I'd read it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Bullying, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Murder

Minor: Kidnapping and Medical content

eimearz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

5.0

Loved the characters and the framing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Confinement, Blood, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

kayladaila's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Blood, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Murder, Misogyny, Grief, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Pedophilia

Minor: Abortion, Car accident, and Religious bigotry

rinku's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Girls I’ve Been combined many typical elements of YA fiction in such an interesting and engaging way that I haven’t seen before. I wish I could give five stars but apparently, I’m very critical at the moment with giving books five-star ratings and always find something why I won’t give them this rating. 

Without spoilers, I can’t say a lot about the plot but this much: In the past, Nora has lived with her abusive and criminal mother from whom she was able to flee when she was a teenager. Now, in the present, she just wants to pay in some money with her friends when a bank robbery happens, confronting her with her past and giving her chance to put it behind her. 

What this novel did especially well was the combination of coming-of-age elements with the mystery/crime aspect of the story. The coming-of-age story is quite dark and serious which I didn’t expect but which was still greatly done. When looking at the mystery front, it was so clever how the characters slowly gathered pieces of information and things that could help them. The plans they had were just so creative and fun.  The ending was great as well but what I didn’t like about it was the fact that

the robbery wasn’t connected to Nora’s past at all. I think it would’ve been even more interesting if this had been the case

. 

Throughout the whole novel, there was a great feeling of tension. This tension was mainly created through the short chapters and the mixing of the past and present storyline which was executed so well. In general, I enjoyed the writing style, and there were so many sentences I just had to (virtually) underline since they were so great. 

Looking at the characters, I generally liked them and found them interesting, even though there was a bit too much telling around them at the beginning. I especially loved to see the relationship between Nora and Iris which was just so cute. Talking about Nora, it’s so empowering to see how tough she has become after the abuse she had to endure. It was also so amazing to see how she

was able to free herself from her mom in the end

. 

All in all, The Girls I’ve Been was a great read with great characters and storytelling. I would love to read more from this universe or from the characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Abortion, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Rape

jojo_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Child abuse, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Murder, Pedophilia, Abortion, Bullying, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Rape

maisiemoo's review

dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Abortion