Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

18 reviews

davschi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cancer, Rape, and Blood

kat_smith24's review

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging dark informative slow-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? No

3.5

This was recommended by two friends and I’m grateful I read it 🥹

We flit between Young-sook’s perspective as an old haenyeo ‘thriving’ in Jeju (2008) then her and the haenyeo community and the traumas they had to endure (1930’s onwards). This was difficult for me to get used to, so there were some moments where I wanted to put the book down. However, this book helped me learn so much about haenyeo and I did go back for more. 

Young-sook and Mi-ja’s friendship was so deep, I could only imagine the horrific hurt they both experienced 😫

I absolutely adored the ending though, Janet and Clara revealing their persimmon-dyed diving clothes got me all teary ❤️

3.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Colonisation

honeymoonleo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit

belletex's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

Very grim historical events from a personal pov. Goes from slow to very intense. I wish it had a happier ending because it leaves you feeling sad. Great book on the hole but not something I enjoyed reading or would pick up again. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

katyps78's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Beautiful epic historical fiction about 2 women/friends/wives/mothers and their lives.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Murder, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

hannahfaith25's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Colonisation

kanderson246's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and War

naomi_k's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

imogenrose97's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

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

3.75

Technically this is a beautifully researched, informative and interesting book. Emotionally and prose wise I struggled to find a light which would help me get through it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape