Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

18 reviews

cheryl_gager's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.25

This book took me by surprise in more than one way. The synopsis does not hint at how dark the themes of this book are and when it is revealed at the start of part 2 (just under 100 pages in) it is shocking. I think the themes are tackled in a way that is easily digestible as there is a level of detachment from a lot of the most traumatic, disturbing moments (which were off page) didn't happen to the characters whose POVs we get. I loved Sally as a character, the growth she had and the inner turmoil she faced made her POV heartbreaking and heart warming all at once. I got frustrated with the side characters around her because they expected her to be understanding to things and others but it was not always reciprocated and she was never truly given the benefit of the doubt and treated like her choices mattered, especially if she made them on her own. The other POV was more heartbreaking. This is a story of how a negative cycle of behaviour can start (I am using negative but it is not even close to how dark somethings got) and how the cycle continues but I feel like there is hope at the end of the potential for these generational cycles to be broken.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, and Car accident

This has a lot darker themes then the synopsis would suggest. You do read about a child being kidnapped and held in a looked room. You also can work out what is going on in the room where the 2 different women were held (one of which you meet after they have been there for 7 years already), and it does eventually being said / confirmed later in the book. However, you do not actually see what happens to these poor girls/women in this situation and you are reading about it from someone who never witnessed the worst of it. There is one racist character but they are confronted and challenged straight away and they face consequences which are so fitting. The book ends at the start of the 2020 pandemic so there is brief mention of it existing but no real detail about what it is or the effects. Mental health and trauma is also discussed and you do read transcripts from the first victim / person kidnapped, whilst in a psychiatric ward in the lead up before she commits suicide.

madh2os's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Rape, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexism, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, and Misogyny

nialiversuch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Ableism, Self harm, Grief, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Vomit, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Suicide, and Pregnancy

mariannelwnicholson's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

I would never tell someone to read this book. It's dark and sad and horrible. You think it's a weird, slightly funny story about a sad girl and then from nowhere it's about her horrific background and then it gets hopeful and you think it'll all be okay and then it ends by basically telling you that there is no hope and there is no way to escape the cycle of abuse. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Confinement, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence

drannieg's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Well written, but fecking hell this is bleak. Read it all the way through in one sitting is my advice, for if you stop halfway you'll have nightmares. Not really my thing, though I appreciate the craft.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, and Violence

Minor: Racism and Suicide

_desreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism

bookellys's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I’ve seen a lot of hype for this book and I think it’s worth it… mostly.

The book alternates between chapters from Sally’s perspective and Peter’s. Whilst the Sally chapters are in the here and now and offer some great character development, the Peter chapters span 40+ years, proving some great back story. Most chapters are short and snappy and I found myself flying through this book!

Let’s talk about the ending - for how long the book had taken to fill you in on backgrounds and build the characters, it felt a little rushed. I think the last chapter for Peter was the exact right ending though (if you can say that?!) but Sally’s ending was disappointing and I don’t think in line with the Sally we, and the characters in the book, had grown to love.

Also, what’s with the book cover? I don’t feel this represents the book at all! Maybe future editions could consider something more in line with the story (a piano or tatty teddy bear perhaps?) or at least closer to Sally’s actual description in the book.

Overall, I think 4 stars is fair and I would definitely recommend you picking this one up if it’s on your TBR.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Racism, Torture, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence

tabby2920's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Violence

patriciadm's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Murder, Car accident, and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia

ireanirean's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Sexism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Confinement

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Racism, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Self harm, and Xenophobia

Minor: Stalking, Pregnancy, Car accident, Sexual violence, War, and Vomit