Reviews tagging 'Rape'

You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne

6 reviews

xavreadsbooks's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, and Rape

Minor: Pedophilia

annabelreadsandwrites's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Racism

bookishstevie's review

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape, Racism, and Sexism

leah08855's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Domestic abuse, Rape, Bullying, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Medical content, and Toxic friendship

book_cwtch's review against another edition

This was a tough read about the beauty industry, power and masculinity through the views of two teens on opposite sides of beauty culture trying to make it through their formative years. This is so spot on an accurate that it’s difficult to read even as an adult but I’m glad I finished it as the last 30% were really excellent. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Alcohol

rosiebethreads's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I really think this book would have benefited from a glossary, I’m an adult reader and sometimes was a bit confused by the word swapping. If the aim here is to introduce teens to the patriarchal society we live in I do think we should use those words - empower through language! 

I also found some of the swaps counterproductive - calling p*rn “smut” for example I feel moralises romance that includes sex on page often coequally known by romance readers as, smut. I also am not completely on bored with the cause-and-effect message created of porn = teenagers to abuse one another it’s a bit video games make people violent. 

Moreover, I would have loved to have seen a girl who sat somewhere in between a pretty and an objectionable - what happens when only some things are negotiated? 

However saying all that - you could be so pretty is a page turner, the characters are engaging and I loved the friendship between Joni and belle and the mother daughter relationships. I also really loved its focus on education and how it is not a safe space for all girls.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming and Bullying

Minor: Domestic abuse