Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Ophelia Girls by Jane Healey

5 reviews

carolines's review against another edition

dark medium-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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Cancer, and Suicide

gen_wolfhailstorm's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

The Details:
Narrated by Alix Dunmore
Unabridged

This was haunting and unexpectedly ... sensual... I don't know if that's the right word, exactly, but I wasn't expecting how much I'd be taken in with the beauty of the water and dense heat of summer compared to the innocent exploration of girlhood and how nostalgic that felt for me. Yet, in contrast, how this sweet and pure theme was manipulated in the present scenes and used to the advantage of an older and trusted character. It was uncomfortable but I couldn't stop reading.

In tone, this kind of gave me the Paper Palace vibes, and that makes me want to revisit that title because I had previously dnf'd it.

I loved how haunting the time period and season felt, which isn't a word I would usually use to describe summer and the 70s at all, but there was this whole heavy atmosphere that was rich in melancholy and the gothic and although it wasn't a thriller, there was such a dense layer of suspense and tension at every turn.

Depending on Maeve or Ruth's perspective, it was interesting how warped the mother or daughter's voice sounded to the perspective. As the reader, it was fascinating to see how the other viewed the others actions, justified their own, etc.

I feel like the fall out happened a bit too close to the end. I wanted the fall out to happen sooner so we could see more of the direct consequences span out, but I enjoyed that we got to see more long term scenarios, which felt like more closure than I was expecting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Suicide attempt

larade's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexism, Infertility, and War

zoe_werdy's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I loved the writing in this book, the haunted images of pretty girls floating in the river, the complexity of the characters, the way if the past is left unresolved it ends up repeating itself. I found the relationship hard to stomach, but I guess that's the point. It leaves you to make your own decision about who the villains are. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

rcsreads's review

dark 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

1.5

A large part of this is just paedophile porn. There's no need for the inappropriate relationship to be gone into with so much detail. 
The mother's side of the story would have been enough although it has some unpleasant, outdated and homophobic opinions expressed. The daughters story is actively disgusting and romanticised paedophilia. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Outing