Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall

5 reviews

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

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

sarinaslibrary's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.75

I would like to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

I really really wanted to enjoy this book, it's marketing on TikTok was crazy and I was super excited when I got approved to read a proof. Sadly it didn't hit right for me.

I didn't find myself liking any of the characters, the grandmother was a bit mean to me, the FMC was a bit of a pushover & people pleaser, also a bit dumb and annoying. The rest of the characters were also quite annoying as well, the only one I really liked was Seth, the FMC brother who went away and came back after a couple of years.

The FMC just didn't sit right for me, especially when she came to find that the dog she found and took in was her ex's and refused to give it back to him because at first she's petty, then she wanted a part of him with her when all the drama was going on. He kept asking for it back and she kept refusing, and as a dog owner myself it really made me angry. 

Seth's story was just more interesting to me because there was a bit of mystery and he didn't want magic because it was hurting him and making him depressed, but in the end of the book the FMC gives up her magic so he can keep his - why not have Seth give up the magic he doesn't want to his sister that does want it?? Everytime he said he didn't want magic his family (even the FMC) just dismissed his feelings and saying that he can't run away from it. That's not a good message.

There's a strong message of family in this book that doesn't hit right, there's a line basically saying that family will hurt you but you have to forgive and love them in the end because that's what family is all about  - I'm sorry but no. Families can hurt you and you have every right to cut them out and keep it that way, some things families do are unforgivable and it remains that way. It left a bad taste in my mouth for personal reasons and I almost gave up the book around this time, but I kept going.

The romance in this wasn't good either, FMC's ex comes back into the town (the one she refuses to give the dog back too), turns out he's engaged which he tried to tell her  (which by the way comes not far from the end of the book) but she kept dismissing him, turns out the woman he's engaged to fakes her pregnancy - all of this was really unnecessary.  

It wasn't a cosy witchy book at all, all the magic was food and drinks and it contained some triggers that I didn't expect. There's also a lot of cheesy paragraphs that didn't need to be there - oh and the grandmother forcing the FMC to attend church also didn't sit well with me.

Overall I was disappointed in this book, I really love cosy witchy books but this one just didn't hit the mark.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Death

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Minor: Murder

wornpagesandendlesscoffey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

2.5

Always thankful for the ARCs I receive, and this is my honest review. I am certain there is an audience for this book, one that will adore it and make it their entire identity. I am not that audience. I want to first say, the marketing here was super deceptive and I was almost immediately disappointed. Nothing about this story was "Gilmore Girls"- literally, nothing. There was a huge chunk of Practical Magic in there, so much so it almost felt like the same story, adjusted. It wasn't a bad book, it wasn't poorly written, but the false marketing left me with a horrid taste in my mouth for the book. I love Gilmore Girls, I named my child after the show and watch it once a year (at least), so I was thrilled to have a book that had that vibe. This book wasn't that at all, There are also a mountain of triggers and no TW of any kind, the dynamics of the grandmother felt off, the way everyone treated the main character was shady and bad, and worst of all

the female main character had to sacrifice her magic and her identity for a man. Lorelai would *never*.

The conflict was rushed and the resolution was sloppy. Every character treated the FMC like she was loved for how she made them feel or how she was useful to them, her boundaries were ignored or pushed past by nearly everyone, and have I mentioned the massive triggers. SO since the author didn't include them, a few to note are death, abandonment, toxic relationships, magic bypassing consent, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, cancer, manipulation, gaslighting, murder, and relationship abuse- this is not an exhaustive list by any means but someone should put it out there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Murder