Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir

8 reviews

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this story about a young woman who uses an unexpected pregnancy and marriage to leave her reality-show family.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

ventellina's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Religious bigotry

paperknotbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense 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? Yes

2.75

The story and characters are engaging, but they felt lifeless and cliche. Some characters, such as the Pastor and Essie’s mom, had personas which never fully developed. I never understood their motives, or those of Liberty Bell. 

I like where the story ended up, but it was expected. There are too many gimmicky tropes plopped into the storyline, it is forced into with a predictable evolution. Too many “unseen” activities made my suspension of disbelief difficult.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Incest

Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Classism

Cult activity is heavy theme in this book

bri_fabiano's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Rape, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Outing

wolf013's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Homophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Abortion

oliviaja's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Animal cruelty

baileycowen's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

Truly a book that provoked a lot of thought, it was a fascinating engagement and critique of the extreme problems of extreme religious sects. I liked the ending, felt that it wrapped up in a realistic but hopeful way. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Religious bigotry

otherworlds's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• 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: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, and Excrement

Minor: Alcoholism