Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

328 reviews

bluebellfallen's review against another edition

dark 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

1.25

This book felt like a lot of ideas of story lines or plots that an author brainstormed, added a page count to, and then published without any further thought. The characters are deeply rooted in sexism and patriarchy, even though the author seems to imply this is a feminist, women-empowering kind of novel. It isn't. 

Every single plot is centered around women wanting children and whether or not they have them and how that ruins or fulfills their lives after. Every single one. All of them. (I don't get it)

There are so many flaws (and I have so few spoons right now) that I will just say - it wasn't a good book, and it certainly wasn't the right kind of bad to be worth reading. 75% or more of the book crawled by, while the last 25% did all the heavy lifting in the most annoying, James Patterson writes chapters that are max 2 pages long and then jumps perspectives / scenes entirely to keep the tension up and he inspired me - esque way. 

It just wasn't (in any way) worth my time, but because it's so mildly written and the author tries to hide behind "dark murder mystery" vibes to get away with a lot of shitty things (and the book isn't even a dark murder mystery btw - that's just the vibes she's going for), it would also be so very easy to just think "wow, that book was mid, but I wouldn't mind recommending the book if someone is bored or something", and then accidentally pass on, perpetuate, and re-normalize things like baby-obsession and "casual" emotional and mental manipulation at the hands of a spouse (which - if you know, you *know*).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Infertility, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Self harm, and Infidelity

The husband thing, for if you don't know, want to know, but don't want to read the book:

The husband literally poisons himself to try and manipulate Caroline into staying with him after he cheated on her (you know, instead of apologizing). The police think she tried to kill him herself on purpose, and she is almost arrested because of it (and honestly, she should have been - that whole scene is also b.s., and is beYOND unrealistic). When she figures this out, she is briefly a little bit angry, but otherwise? Nothing. They part ways on relatively okay terms (they're not getting back together, but they're chill somehow??), she never tells the police what actually happened, and the author makes it very clear that they think this behavior was normal and fine. Not even ONCE does the author even beGIN to imply that this man needs help or that he's abusive (and yes, two things can be true at once - he needs help for this obvious mental health crisis, AND he's an emotionally and mentally abusive f*ck).

brookey8888's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.5

I really enjoyed this! It was a little slow and not what I was expecting so that’s why I’m not rounding up to a four. I just found the concept very interesting and the different timelines. I’m not going to lie, I did not care about the present timeline because if you know me you know I loathe cheating. I’m so happy she didn’t get back with that man. One part did make me gasp because what an idiot of a man. The ending actually did make me emotional and I teared up a bit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Classism, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicide, Abortion, Death, and Misogyny

pinkupengu's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Murder, Classism, Violence, Medical trauma, Abortion, Alcohol, Suicide, Medical content, Sexism, Death, Drug use, Animal death, Child death, Vomit, Death of parent, Blood, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Incest, Terminal illness, and Cancer

Minor: Body horror, Excrement, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Addiction

a_novel_craving's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Medical content, Grief, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Murder

andig's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Blood, Death, Sexual assault, Murder, Infidelity, and Miscarriage

goldsbuc's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Infidelity

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

jla's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

This book was unexpectedly depressing. It had the feel of a domestic thriller. I'm realizing that I struggle with books where people don't get what they deserve, and I struggle with infidelity and toxic relationships. I enjoyed the setting of the book. The end, though, this lady is a terrible historian.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Murder, Child death, and Toxic relationship

amodernhobbitslibrary's review against another edition

emotional mysterious fast-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? No

4.25

I enjoyed the parallels between the 2 stories, and would absolutely love if this women’s apothecary was a real historical fact. 

The authors portrayal of the grief & pain that comes from betrayal, or wanting a baby was so real it had me wondering if she’d experienced it first hand. This story had me feeling like I was right there with them listening to their tales of heartbreak, & the exciting thrill of discovery. I felt deeply for these women, almost as if I had known them myself. Now that we’ve come to an end, I don’t quite know what to do with myself. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual harassment and Infertility

zophiebrown's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

Shows the power of social history and reassembling the lives of historical women within the comfort of fiction and intriguing storytelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Murder

acarolinabelle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

Dual timeline, history, thriller, with a touch of fantasy. The story follows an apothecary in old London with a dark secret. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Child death, Suicide, Death, Vomit, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Infertility, and Terminal illness