Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Eclips by Stephenie Meyer

22 reviews

dramagirl2003's review against another edition

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

4.0

I was disappointed by this book. I really liked Twilight, and New Moon was great too. This one doesn't quite measure up the same for me. 

Edward: Not a fan of the control he's trying to enforce on Bella. Like, I appreciate that he most likely, genuinely believes that the wolves are dangerous, but they are her friends too

Jacob: I was beginning to edge towards #teamjacob until the sexual assault. Seriously dude. Just no. Enough said. 

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cyanr's review against another edition

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

4.5

This is my favorite of the Twilight saga books. It's the most plot-driven book in the entire series. Because of the events of the first book, Bella is in danger again from Victoria while a murderous rampage is happening just a few cities away in Seattle. The deaths of all these innocents has put the Cullens--and the pack--on edge.

Eventually, the werewolves and Cullen Coven are able to form a shaky alliance to bring down their common enemy. Vampires.

Of course, Victoria is playing with Edward and Alice's abilities and is able to remain undetected while she creates a newborn army to kill Bella. Edward eventually kills her in the end and Bella realizes she loves Jacob Black and Edward at the same time. Of course, she is never going to act on her desires for Jacob....except for this one time to save his life. It doesn't work out for the two of them.


I love this book. There's so much going on and so many connecting plot elements. This was originally meant to be the end of the saga, but Stephenie pushed for her original ending. Eclipse ties up all the loose ends, is plot heavy, and manages to get lots of romance in there. 

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rebekken's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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dosxhime's review against another edition

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

3.0

Book 2 was so strong, so I was majorly confused as to why this one left me just bored out of my mind. Towards the end, I just get so frustrated with the characters for beings so insincere, repetitve, creepy, and possessive. Yes, that even counts Bella, who is back to having no personality. 

It was a drag and I hate Jacob, that is all. 

3 / 5 D-

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a_wren_that_reads's review against another edition

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

3.0


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tiana_king's review against another edition

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

3.75


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ladybanecourt's review against another edition

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

3.5

✨3.5/5✨
I'm not going to lie, this book would have been a four-star for me if it hadn't been for
Jacob's assaults on Bella and the manipulation he did to her.
The book was action packed and got me hooked, but unfortunately yeah those happened.

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sweetchocolatez's review against another edition

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

3.5


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ashleylowry's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

4.5


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directorpurry's review against another edition

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

3.0

CW: discussion of rape, child grooming, nonconsensual touching/kissing, suicide as a threat

Note: Basically all of my update notes are geared towards the reader I was in middle school. I know I took a lot of things to heart that I shouldn't have, and I'm glad I've grown out of most of them, but I wish she could have read some of these thoughts just the same...

Despite everything Edward has ever done wrong, by Eclipse he's really stopped being too manipulative and he never touches Bella without her permission.
JACOB, meanwhile...

I really dislike Jacob in this book. He makes quite cruel choices and on multiple occasions he kisses Bella without consent. He manipulates her with the threat of suicide, so even saying she wanted to kiss him was not exactly freely-given consent... (Maybe SM should watch that mandatory sexual assault video series I had to watch before starting grad school - I feel like there are a couple of loose concepts she missed.)
Edit Aug 2021: But even if Bella DOES love him, she doesn't owe him a relationship! Like, Edward aside, that's kind of the worst part - this expectation that she WILL act on her feelings.
I think I take so much of this to heart because I've been in a weird situation before where the heart/brain connection wasn't quite there yet for me and I was kissed when I wasn't expecting it. Even though we dated for a while shortly after that, I still feel extremely uncomfortable and sometimes even upset remembering that evening. It doesn't matter if you love someone, being kissed without consent is bad, bad, bad.

I keep trying to see Rosalie as something other than a mouthpiece, but I really can't. Aside from her wicked, badass revenge, she's so... gross. She's perfectly aware how vain she is, but she doesn't do anything to curb it. Most of her energy goes into being upset over her lack of a baby. It's very uncomfortable and I genuinely see myself as a far opposite of Rosalie.
Edit Aug 2021: There's also such conflagration between romantic and familial love. Like, a romantic, loving relationship that doesn't result in children isn't "half" - it's a whole thing in itself. While you, personally, may feel unfulfilled without children, that in no way lessens the legitimacy of your relationship.
(mostly joking but) Honestly, it's SUCH an insult to Emmett, he doesn't deserve this kind of treatment!!!

Leah is extremely poorly treated by both the cast and SM. It's worse in Breaking Dawn, but she's just kind of thrown into this to make more points about having kids...
Edit Aug 2021: There's just so much girl-on-girl hate there, it makes me so sad....

And don't even get me started on Imprinting! It's literally the grossest thing I've ever heard of and I hate it! Borrowing my friend's words: "It's normalizing grooming." These grown-ass men should in no way be allowed to look at a literal child and say, "Yep, that's the one. I'm going to wait for her to grow up and then I will marry her." It's such a horrific imbalance of power; this man you've known for your entire life saying to you one day that he's been madly in love with you for almost two decades, please marry him.
Definitely showing some Mormon bias out here... SpoilerIt did make me wonder, though - there's a bit in Midnight Sun where Edward chomps down on a pedophile - called by name. I'm curious if this is in response to arguments against the Imprinting concept? Obviously I know she still full-heartedly supports her weird story choices, but...

I'd be lying, though, if I didn't say I enjoy this book, lol. Mostly for Edward. I love Edward in this; now that he's finally not trying to leave Bella, now that he understands what a dumbass move that is, he's very fun. His personality grows more in this book than the rest of the series (Midnight Sun aside, obviously.)

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