Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

62 reviews

booktwinning's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault

liesbethvv's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I quite enjoyed reading this escape into the history of London, a woman turned to becoming a secret apothecarist selling cures and poisons at her female customer’s wishes. This book contains a dual timeline, and the current time storyline couldn’t quite capture my attention, the connections between the characters and with the past storylines felt forced and a little farfetched to me. I could have just done with the historical timeline, which was pleasantly written and transported me into the world of the characters. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Suicide

thirdtimesacharm's review

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death and Alcohol

evilyn's review

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Abortion

thriftybookworm's review

adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Infertility, and Miscarriage

embersonthehearth's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-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

2.25

Not great, not awful. Easy to read, but the writing is not the best.
The story develops in two streams: past and present.
The past one is interesting, however it could take place anywhere at anytime. There is nothing that makes it relevant to the place and location.
The present one is just bad. The protagonist is unbearable even though we're supposed to be rooting for her, and the things she goes through are just plain ridiculous. Bored housewife meets Indiana Jones, but if he was a complete idiot.

The worst part is that the concept of the book is, if not unique, very interesting. Pity the story wasn't better developed.

I can see why the book is popular though, it's chick lit (which I actually like). It's easy to read, you want to know what happens next, and the characters are mostly women. For what it is, it's ok. Just don't sell it as an historical mystery.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

ludmireads's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

It started off very strong but it only got worse and worse as the book progressed. 
I felt sad reading about Frederick’s betrayal at the beginning but it only got annoying after they mentioned it for the millionth time.
I hated the pregnancy trope. I wouldn’t mind it at all if there was one woman dealing with this problem but  the author  made every woman character long for a child they can’t have and it felt a little bit too much.
It was kinda unrealistic and ridiculous. I had so many questions while reading this and they all went unanswered. Here are some of them (spoilers):

How is it possible that the apothecary went unnoticed/untouched throughout the years? You’re telling me that no one ever bought it or broke in? Nah, I don’t believe it. Why is the building with the apothecary the only one that’s not been demolished? Did no one really noticed the door? And the most important one: Why does no one do anything about James and his suicide attempt? (I know it technically wasn’t a suicide attempt but he’s obviously not mentally stable. WTF??)

The ending was very underwhelming and it didn’t make much sense.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

onlyaud's review

adventurous lighthearted fast-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

4.75

I enjoyed the book!

There are moments within the book where the characters and their obsession with having a baby and periods is a little strange. I’m sure there’s some symbolism wrapped in there but I haven’t quite figured that out

However, I enjoyed all the different perspectives of the characters and how the discovery of the apothecary matched with what was happening at the time. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault

nicolewhopickedthisbook's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.5

Watch the Who Picked this Book? Club Livestream review and discussion
https://youtu.be/7iHQGuUQprE

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

From the author, Sarah Penner: -infidelity, divorce ideation -bodily effects of poisoning, blood -recall of a past miscarriage -brief predatory behavior against an adolescent -brief suicide ideation

isgbv's review

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, and Murder