Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels

30 reviews

jachnax's review against another edition

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The writing style in this is just so bad. I was kinda involved in the story and i really tried to push through but i just couldnt.
Its all very cliché but that was okay for a christmas romance but the writing....
The author is permantly repeating herself writing things that would take 2 sentences in a whole inner monologue that repeats every ten pages. Its very much like: She did that and thought that and then I did that and then she said and then i was happy "huge inner monologue we already had 5 times" etc etc.
It was unbearable honestly.

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marrireadsandrambles's review

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funny hopeful tense 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

3.5


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orangeowl's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.75

I didn't realize it would be an alternating viewpoints to tell the story, so I was glad there were two narrators to avoid confusion.

It's a Christmas romance, so some was, as predictably, predictable. But enough plot twists to keep it interesting and some questions you need to get close to the end to have answered.

Readers/Listeners should be aware that the topic of emotional abuse is covered from one of the pairs recent exes, so if that may be difficult for you, know it is at least mentioned in I believe to be 4 chapters, and
the emotional abuser makes contact and is in this telling for a chapter or two
.
Death of loved ones, and mental struggles of older family members are also part of this story.

I appreciated that not only do the predictable couple grow closer together, the family whose home it is set in also gets closer through the story.


[This is the first book review I've ever written, so sorry if it's rough.]

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kirareads's review

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25


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ergaich's review

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

3.0

Premise was really cute but the book felt more like YA than adult. The characters felt immature and the dialogue was quite stunted. I think think this writer has potential but this just felt a little forced and hard to read

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a_libra_library's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Margot's story was amazing and I loved it so much. Elli's story...no yuck I couldn't stand her or her POV for the first 50% 

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arlaubscher's review

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emotional lighthearted sad 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? Yes

3.75


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skyfluff's review

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0


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rebeckareads's review against another edition

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Persevered in hopes it'd get me in the Christmas spirit. Very Hallmark-y which is just not for me.

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meheehee's review

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funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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