Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) by Tess Sharpe

19 reviews

abi2xoxo's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

WOW. WOW. WOW. This book has only been released very recently and it doesn't have as many reviews! 
I honestly never audibly laugh at a book or actually cry but my god. 

pros- 
Well-written. I don't know how to elaborate on this but it just is. It is a beautiful book. 
All characters have backstories. Sometimes books get lost in their main characters. Every character had a reason for behaving that way that went beyond just being an ex-girlfriend or just being a mum or grandma. It even made me smile when a teacher was introduced for one paragraph and then never appeared again but what they said made me well up and they felt so human. 
The fact this book is in little sections and each near-kiss has its own section that goes beyond chapters. I am glad the author knew what to do with this sort of layout because it was so much easier to read and made me feel like if I put the book down and started again at the next section I was almost starting a new 'movie'. 
The flashbacks weren't confusing at all to me. They integrated it well into each section and they all became a story within themselves. Each Penny and Tate got an opinion in the flashbacks as well which was nice to see. 
Six Times We Almost Kissed (and the one time we did), is from two views!!!!! I enjoy a book so much more when it isn't just one person's view but multiple people speaking. 
Death was handled with care. I didn't feel that the grief was unrealistic but I loved that everyone had grief no matter their relationship with George. 
When George died I was in a coffee shop and believe me, I had to put my book down otherwise I would have burst into tears. 

cons-
One thing missing from this book in relation to the two-view style was that the mums weren't reintroduced. I was a little confused when names suddenly switched and I kept having to remind myself which mum was whose. 

Usually, I can find something to nitpick in a book but this book was just awesome. 

I recommend and will definitely be reading Tess Sharpe again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Cancer, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Blood

cosyqueer's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cursing, Cancer, Ableism, and Chronic illness

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Medical content, and Emotional abuse

imstephtacular's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Grief, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Death, Cursing, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Infidelity

jerusha's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Medical content

Minor: Ableism

vicwaltz's review

emotional hopeful sad medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Cancer, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship

luna_is_superior's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

In LOVE with this book! The characterisation, the angst? I couldn't ask for more!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical content, Vomit, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Cursing, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

decembermagpie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Medical content, and Toxic relationship

librariangeorgia's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I absolutely adored this book. 

 

I loved the relationship development between Penny and Tate. I loved that nothing is off limits - grief, cheating, therapy, trauma (emotional and physical), loss of parent, dysfunctional families, mental health and illnesses are all discussed and made part of the storyline. 

 

Told in dual perspectives, I liked getting to see Penny and Tate’s perspectives on everything that happened. I loved the plot and I liked that each time they almost kissed is centred around something that they both went through and supported each other with. 

 

I highly recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Grief

tjtjtj's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Thank you so much to TeamBkmrk for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m beyond grateful. This was beautiful.

6 Times We Almost Kissed is deserving of more than 5 stars. If I could give it 6, I would. 

A wonderful story of grief, chosen family, and hope. Tess Sharpe manages to pack so much meaning into 300-odd pages, combining romance and mystery to make a story about resilience and growth. I could spend days dissecting her work and still have more to analyse. Sharpe’s writing is so beautiful, so digestible, so gripping, it mixes such heavy and difficult topics, with heartwarming and hopeful ones. I couldn’t put this book down and ended up finishing it in 5 hours. I think this is the type of book you’ll find yourself crying over, but for me, I’m just happy the characters got the ending that was right for them. 

I’m so glad this was my first read of the year, but I’m not sure how any book is going to compare.

If you like Tess’s other work, then definitely read this! There is a different vibe to The Girls I’ve Been, but 6 Times still has genius woven into each line. Such fantastic sexuality rep (both MCs are bisexual) and mental health rep. 

Please check tws before reading!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Cancer

Moderate: Self harm, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Bullying