Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

90 reviews

books4escaping's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

Really liked - The story kept me engaged from start to finish. A similar plot to "The Maids Secret" by Freida McFadden. The difference is that I found The Last Mrs. Parrish execution better and more enjoyable. I'm glad Amber got what she desired.

Most memorable lines

I was learning that emotional intimidation could be just as unsettling as physical.

Amber needed order—disciplined, structured order. And now, finally, she was the master of her world. And of her fate.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic friendship

abbygcarter08's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

This book was insane!!! It had me enthralled, but also mad the whole time!! All I have to say is karma is a sneaky b**ch!! A very entertaining story and a great ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Death of parent

slash's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Pregnancy

danielle_is_reading's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

jordanbro1993's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

baileyclose's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

brittischill's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting

dizpig's review against another edition

funny mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

lizwarnerr's review against another edition

slow-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

3.0

*This review is a complete spoiler and synopsis. The spoiler tags won’t let me put it all in a spoiler*

When I first started this book, I hated it. I hated amber, the main character. She was trying to con her way into marrying a powerful man because she had had such a bad life, which is an overdone trope IMO. She connects with his wife and instantly becomes her friend and weens her way into their family. I thought her plans for making her way into their lives and getting this man to succumb for her were working too easily, and I was annoyed because that’s not how it would’ve worked in real life.

And then we get to the second part of the book where daphne, the wife, recounts everything that happened. And it starts to click. She’s conning a con woman. She figures out that Amber is conning her, and she starts to formulate a way for both her and Amber to get what they want. Daphne has desperately wanted to leave - the husband is a sociopath. He’s mentally, physically, and emotionally abusive, but has her trapped in the relationship. 

The last part of the book plays side by sides of amber and Daphne’s POVs. We get to see it play out of how Amber thinks she’s won when the husband decides to divorce Daphne because she’s finally giving the son he’s always wanted. Daphne is excited because she gets enough money out of the settlement to have trusts for the girls and can escape from him forever. 

We think we’ll end on this and we expect that Amber is going to find out it’s not all roses and diamonds. But instead, Daphne gives the info to the husband that Amber is conning him and had a plant in his company so he’s also going to jail for tax fraud. And then Amber is also stuck in this relationship that is as bad as how Daphne was living because he knows her secret and will turn her to police if she tries to leave. And Daphne finally gets to escape that life. 

I initially thought I would give this 2-3 stars because of how much I hated the characters. And then it got interesting from Daphne’s POV and I was ready to give it 5 stars. But as other reviewers have mentioned, the idea that domestic abuse is “punishment” for this woman’s actions is a bit unsettling. I think things could’ve been different. It is a book, and you feel the sense of relief and vengeance after reading, but I’m not sure it’s the best message. I’m still unsure on how I feel about this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion

crystal83087's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism