Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

51 reviews

lakea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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: Murder and Suicide

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Vomit, Terminal illness, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Chronic illness

Minor: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

idun_aurora's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense slow-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

3.0

This took me a while to finish, but despite the feeling of swimming in syrup at times, I also found myself raging passionately at the story at times, which was a good sign. I loved the portrayal of female friendship, and having gotten out of a toxic relationship myself, this book hit spots and gave courage. All in all, it was okay.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

ambb's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Infertility, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Pedophilia

Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, Terminal illness, Animal death, Blood, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty

becca_w_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Child death, Classism, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Violence, Medical trauma, Police brutality, and Vomit

Minor: Abandonment

amberinpieces's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, and Blood

Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Murder

Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness

alecrigdon's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Child death, and Death

hiddeninfantasy's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Infidelity, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Incest

justineboots's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

3.5

Just before picking this up, I saw a booktuber I trust describe this as disappointing. I decided to pick it up anyway but I’m now inclined to agree.

The booktuber said, and I agree, that the modern chapters were the weakest. Overall, I found Caroline a sympathetic character, especially having escaped an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship myself. 

However, I guess I wanted more from her character development. While her internalized victim-blaming is understandable, I would have wanted to see more of her growth past it. Instead it felt like all her realizations happened in the last couple chapters instead of being a slow unfolding over the course of the story. 

The story should also carry several trigger warnings. 

So far this is the lowest rated book I’ve had this year and I’m pretty disappointed I let it put me in a reading slump. 

3.5 here, 3 on Goodreads

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Infidelity

zezeki's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Infertility, Miscarriage, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Sexism, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Rape

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Animal death and Alcohol