Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

58 reviews

woosh's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I think maybe Grady Hendrix's style of horror is just not for me. Both books I've read so far, I've walked away feeling more disgust than awe/fear that I get from horror books I've enjoyed more. I did manage to get through this easier than The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I might have DNF'd if I wasn't reading this as a part of SPL's book bingo – not sure I can say this isn't a good book, it's just really not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, and Death

jessthemess8112's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious tense 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

3.75

I've heard so much hype about this book, and I'm glad to say it was all *mostly* true. When I read a title that says "Final Girl Support Group," my first thought is, of course, "Well, how did they become final girls?" And I was slightly annoyed with how long it took to reveal each girls background story while still leaving some of their current information out. However predictable the first plot twist was, I was not prepared for the ending.  I think the author did a great job of making the reader really feel for these girls and root for them to succeed once more,  but if I'm being honest, although surprising,  the ending fell a bit flat when it came to execution. But what can you do? Can't have everything tied up with someone nice bow when it comes to thrillers now, can you? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Violence

crimsonash606's review against another edition

dark funny inspiring fast-paced

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

4.25

An incredible read for any slasher fans. A great mix of deadly stakes and humor.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Blood

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Child death, Alcohol, Torture, Violence, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Murder

vickymcckey's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

3.0

Very well written and well thought out. The author makes sure readers know that he doesn’t support the glorification of serial killers, which is nice and (unfortunately) necessary, even if it was a bit heavy handed throughout the book.

I thought the first plot twist of Skye being the killer worked really well, but Stephanie’s role in it felt a little more forced while it was being revealed.

The description of violence in Lynn’s first “horror movie experience” I found to be a bit gratuitous, but I guess that’s what you get when you pick up this kinda book. The rest of it didn’t bother me, but the implied sexual violence and child violence on page 155-156 were a lot.

This is definitely the kind of story where a good suspension of disbelief will do you favors, not necessarily because of the serial killer aspects, but more because of the character’s personalities and logistics. Though once again, that’s kinda expected from this sort of book. Overall this was definitely out of my comfort zone but I did enjoy it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Child death, Gore, Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Death, Blood, Torture, Death of parent, and Medical content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Car accident, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

Minor: Cannibalism and Animal cruelty

justmys's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Vomit, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Torture, Murder, Misogyny, Stalking, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Body horror, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Sexism

Moderate: Confinement, Car accident, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Not sure if I'll actively search out to read any more by Grady Hendrix. This is only my second book and it feels a little...icky? For lack of a better term. He's so determined to have women go through such harrowing events and it's just starting to feel like...like every other man making a living off of women's suffering????? Maybe the others are different but for now I need a break.

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Cursing, Mass/school shootings, Death, Animal death, Kidnapping, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Cancer, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Child death

sarah_mcmullan_nz's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

1.0

If you're not  a horror movie fan maybe, if you are NOPE

As someone who makes their living out of watching and writing about horror films, this book was incredibly frustrating to read. 
In all honesty, I think I enjoyed trying to figure out who the characters were supposed to be way more than reading this poorly written, sloppily plotted incredibly obvious story. 
Having said that - don't waste your time. 

There are far better horror books, books about final girls and final girl films out there. Find them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, Drug abuse, Cancer, Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Child death, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, and Toxic friendship

justaddwater's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Emotional abuse, Torture, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Addiction, Confinement, Car accident, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Stalking, Kidnapping, and Blood

leeghlee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Confinement, Violence, and Cancer

Moderate: Death of parent, Excrement, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Car accident, Chronic illness, Cursing, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Sexual content, Stalking, and Suicide

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, and Mass/school shootings

sav_22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

This book is a lot of fun. Very captivating, interesting plot. The concept of final girls in the real world is very alluring to me as someone who loves slashers and horror movies like the Scream franchise. I also admire the diversity in age range specifically, as the narrator is in her 30-40s, which I feel is rare in these circumstances. I also appreciate

how unreliable the narrator can be due to her trauma! She is very complex, she grows on you but it really does a good job exploring how trauma changes your entire way of thinking and feeling. The more you read, the more you question her sanity and her truthfulness.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, Death, Blood, Bullying, Dysphoria, Violence, Cursing, Eating disorder, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Stalking