Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

First Down by Grace Reilly

4 reviews

dianaschmidty's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I think I read this at the most perfect moment. I mean, this book has a girl spending time with her football player boyfriend’s family in a stadium box while wearing his jersey. Who does that sound like? If you wanted Taylor x Travis vibes, that’s this book!

Taylor’s Team aside, James and Bex were really cute! I thought their progression from friends to fwb to official dating was both sweet and realistic. I loved how they were so supportive of each other. I also loved how the book demonstrated that giving a partner support doesn’t have to mean giving up something. I think James’ journey to realizing that is an important lesson for people to learn.

I wish there had been a little more fake dating and parts of the book felt a little rushed (mainly their progression from friends to lovers, which felt like it happened in a day when it was supposed to be months), but I’m kind of hoping since the rereleased copy is supposed to be longer that some of that is fixed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Infidelity

avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

     This was a deeper new adult romance than I'm used to. There was more backstory to the main characters and they had more baggage than many new adult romances, which I liked. It tackled a lot of mental health and abusive ex-partner issues. 
    However, James wasn't completely likable and had anger issues. As well as a kind of obsessive attachment thing going on with his partners, where it was ALL about them and nothing else in his life. Making even the main relationship not completely healthy. 
    The male narrator wasn't great the female narrator was good. She did a great job with different tones for different characters.
     Overall it was a good book with a lot of emotional depth. I do plan to continue the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury

taylors_literature's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

culzean's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Classism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence