Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall

17 reviews

tori_borialis's review against another edition

Absolute trash from the very beginning. The main character is insufferable; for a 28 year old woman, she behaves and thinks in incredibly juvenile ways. A cringe-worthy H*rry P*tter reference was my final straw, and upon reading other reviews, I’m glad I stopped while I was ahead. The whole book stinks of conservative Christian ideology (NOT the witchy vibes I expected), and the romantic subplot falls flat. I mean, come on- who the hell is still thinking about their high school boyfriend after ten years of no contact?? Let ALONE being feverishly obsessed with him… it’s giving desperate! It’s giving pathetic! 

The main character complains about everyone leaving her, and honestly? I’d leave her ass too. Apparently this book was rejected 500 times by publishers. I wish it had been 501. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and Cancer

wolters_rachal's review against another edition

emotional medium-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

3.0

I wish a ceremonial moving of magic would cure my depression 🥲

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual assault

fancyjess_party's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

0.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Body shaming, Infidelity, Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

tallard's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.75

This book had a wonderful cozy small town vibe (think practical magic). That said, while the plot was interesting, I personally wasn't sold on the love interest. In fact, I really disliked Jake by the end and I was disappointed in Sadie for not having higher standards for herself. Truly the whole romance part was lack luster.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Abandonment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Sexual assault

kiahsm's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Funny enough I finally finished reading this book after buying it on my kindle a few months back, reading a few chapters, becoming bored and closing out the book. I was on a trip across the country when I bought a "blind book date" wrapped in plain paper from a bookstore that had an enticing description on it. I unwrapped it and found this book, again. I decided I should finish it since it kept finding it's way back to me. 

Don't get me wrong, this book is very cozy and sweet. I loved the nuggets of magic and Gigi's wisdom throughout. The recipes were a nice touch. I will say this isn't the type of book you want to tear through and not put down. It was more so a comforting and slow read. 

Some quotes that hit me were the quotes on grief, as I recently lost my own grandmother to cancer. "What were you supposed to do after the matriarch died?" "The real consolation was seeing their own grief reflected in the eyes and tears of friends and neighbors and cafe patrons because it meant they were unified in their sorrow and love for a woman who had touched so many lives." Those sort of things you reflect on differently after losing someone you love. I appreciated the sincerity in the thought behind those words and showing the depth of Sadie's grief for such an important person in her life.

I felt that the characters had so much more potential for depth and character development, but it did feel very surface level. I also couldn't help myself rolling my eyes at "Jake" the small town firefighter who couldn't seem to be honest with himself or Sadie. Some parts of the story seemed like distractions and almost like the author couldn't choose which path she was going to go down story-line wise. The dark energy in the woods ends up being Sadie's grandfather? This didn't make much sense to me considering Sadie was supposed to be this very in-tune witch, but she couldn't differentiate an evil spirit and her grandpa? Just seemed a bit of a rush to close that part of the story because it didn't pan out the way it had initially been written.

I also have to mention, Gigi killing a man, and Sadie and her brother being the products of SA seemed almost glossed over, with no actual reflection from any of the characters on this part of the story line. It seemed like a heavy explanation to toss into the book without it being a bit more of a discussion.

Otherwise, this book is a cute and cozy read. It would be a great book to read through the fall and I look forward to seeing other books this author puts out as I am sure her writing will grow with practice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Death, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Minor: Murder

lbcavender's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.75

The book was not what I expected. I feel like the blurb made the book seem as if it would be more of a small-town fantasy romance novel rather than one with a literal life-or-death situation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicide

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Toxic relationship

touchegiantsquid's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted slow-paced

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

1.0

The thing that bothered me the most was the main character's suicide attempt led to her love confessing his feelings to her.

Was it just me or did it feel like she and her twin brother had too much sexual tension? Maybe it just didn't sound like different characters had different enough voices.

I was surprised her best friend referred to her as cariño - I thought you'd only use the masculine suffix for people with masculine identities.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Cancer, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

ehoustonmyatt's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

1.5

This had potential to be so fun, even with darker themes. It, instead, focused on things that weren’t important and whizzed past the reveals that were supposed to be big. The Bethany of it all was very stereotypical and predictable, the love interest sucked, and it dropped some big dark themes too casually and not very thoughtfully. Also, the diversity included seemed like a performative afterthought. 

It’s sold as a “cozy” read that feels like Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic but it didn’t deliver any of that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Infertility, Mental illness, Abandonment, Drug use, Addiction, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Terminal illness

Hey, no dogs or cats die so I guess that’s one win!

littlelizzieborden's review against another edition

It was emotionally exhausting and infuriating 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Cancer, and Infidelity

Minor: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Cursing

roget's review against another edition

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infertility, Alcohol, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape, Dementia, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Sexual assault