Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

3 reviews

bookcheshirecat's review

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

4.0

“Everything is a game, Em. Whether you know it or not. Which means that sometimes a lie is more than just a lie. Sometimes it's the only way to win.” 

➽ The Last Time I Lied is another fun Riley Sager Thriller! It's one of his older works that was still enjoyable to read. The story follows Emma, who spent a summer at  Camp Nightingale 15 years ago where three of her bunkmates mysteriously disappeared. Her new friends were never found and ever since Emma has been hiding them in her drawings in order to deal with her lingering trauma. However, the camp is supposed to be reopened soon and she's approached by the director again. Emma gets roped into becoming one of the counsellors and the resident art teacher, but there are a lot of bad memories at  Camp Nightingale and not everyone has forgotten what happened with her bunkmates.

➽ The story talks about Emma's trauma and mental health, as she's still trying to cope with the disappearance of her three friends. With the camp's reopening, she hopes to finally get some closure, but something strange is going on. Maybe she can finally find out what happened back then, as there are still so many unanswered questions. The story is told in dual timelines of Then and Now, looking back on Emma's fateful summer. She develops a codependent, slightly toxic friendship with three girls who are older than her. I didn't really like them, as they were your typical, mean Queen Bees, but the story was still compelling! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Fatphobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Toxic friendship

Minor: Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Stalking

blackcatkai's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

CW: Mental Illness, gaslighting, ableism, alcoholism, disordered eating, body shaming/fatphobia, murder, death, bullying, violence, blood, toxic friendship, suicide attempt, grief, cancer/terminal illness, some sexual content

I'm not necessarily entirely happy with the mental illness rep, but overall, I really enjoyed this. that ending, I swear. I love Riley Sager's writing and I'm so glad I finally got to this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Death, Murder, and Suicide attempt

emily_mh's review against another edition

I had no idea that this book would sensationalise mental illness for tension and drama before going into it. I have finished it, but for that reason I won’t be rating it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Mental illness, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Cursing, Violence, Murder, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Animal death, Grief, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Pedophilia

Minor: Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Addiction, Blood, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Excrement, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Cancer, Vomit, and Infidelity