Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Break by Katherena Vermette

4 reviews

madelynh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad

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

4.0

I struggle with books that are this tragic and I definitely need to read more in general from Indigenous authors to balance it out, but I do think that this is a very good book. It’s hopeful but also complicated, it leaves you with so much unfinished because who knows how life will go, but also with a sense of possibility that for some of these characters things might get better. And also in a lot of ways things are okay as they are. But also that recognition is clear in the unfinished stories that the personal community and healing here isn’t enough to actually fix everything. It’s a lot but that’s what the world is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Addiction

egcam's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical content, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Dementia, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Addiction, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death

schaarzy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Child death, and Mental illness

Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Eating disorder, Dementia, and Death of parent

teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This story is full of trauma. Trauma that needs to be heard. Personal trauma, familial trauma, intergenerational trauma. It is as hopeful as is is sad though. I enjoyed how it was laid out, how each chapter was dedicated to a different character and their story and how they were connected. The characters were strong and well thought out. Each had a story to tell. The family tree was helpful in placing characters as the story progressed, because it was not always told. The story also told of the culture and the way it interacts with the community. I did find that the story felt unfinished, but I also see the necessity and beauty in that. All in all, I really enjoyed it. It was a story of strength and family and hardship.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Addiction, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization