Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

4 reviews

wackzo's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Stalking, Vomit, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Hate crime, and Toxic friendship

honben's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I'm a big fan of the show (completely aware that it is mostly garbage) and I wanted to give the books a shot and I am shockingly pleased. This book contains only what happens in episode 1 of the show (just a heads up) and when I realised I was thrilled. It gives you much more insight on the characters, and there are major differences with the show but I actually feel like I will like the books better (specially in the romance department) and though the writing style is very simplistic it makes it much easier to read.
Already started the second one.
P.S.: there is depiction of mental health struggles and there are moments when even the narrator is fatphobic, I remember a specific line from one of the last chapters. I attribute this to the year it was published, but obviously, it is not nice to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, and Homophobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Classism, Gaslighting, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Death, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Car accident, Infidelity, and Murder

Slut Shaming isn't on the list of trigger warnings, but there is a ton of it on this book.

fanboyriot's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

This is the book where everything—for basically everyone—goes downhill.  Relationships are broken and found—both friend wise and romantic, everything is upped in the dramatics taking simple this and making them a big deal.  A lighthearted mystery in a way, then again it could be just because it’s a nostalgic read, however, it reminds me of a cozy mystery.  Rosewood is a place where the kids act like adults and the adults act like teenagers.  The world building is really good, it gives off the small town vibes really well.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, and Body shaming

Minor: Murder and Toxic relationship

abbiesb_read's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.25

I was feeling nostalgic and decided to read this. The characters in this book are infuriating. Will I read the next book? Probably.

This book is very neck and neck with the show so if you were a fan of the show then I would recommend this. However, I will say that there are A LOT of outdated mentions in this and some painfully and awkwardly  poor choice of dialogue. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting