Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing: Essays by Lauren Hough

8 reviews

1oddkatreads's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Really beautifully written by an author you just want to wrap in a massive hug until they break down and let it all out. The author's experiences and the worldview that has developed around them are painful and bleak. I think there was a glimpse of hopefulness sort of woven in there, but it's safely concealed beneath heavy, protective layers of stoic endurance, perseverance, and carefully managed expectations. I loved learning Lauren's story and the engaging way she told it. I wish her heart peace.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Rape, Self harm, Abortion, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Blood, Outing, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Misogyny

spookyfaith's review

dark funny reflective medium-paced

2.75

I hate giving half ratings or quarter ratings but I was truly on the fence with this one. Some parts I was rolling my eyes over and other times I was highlighting the entire page. 
The stories are all captivating and interesting but I wasn’t a fan of her writing style and voice. 
I really wanted to like this more than I did tbh 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Rape, Confinement, Sexual content, Incest, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse

lizzym126's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Confinement, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

karlisimp's review

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

This is Basically Hough’s memoir. It’s very strong and understandable. The last essay is my favorite. Very deep and can be emotional.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Drug use, Sexual violence, and Child abuse

pinkpotayto's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

This book is so important and special. Lauren is an amazing writer, with such a genuinely honest voice telling her story. it's not sugar coated and it's not dressed up either. and that's the insane part because the stories she tells are so fucked up and real. We all know that this country isn't to be trusted much less the people running it, but hearing something like this first hand is really enlightening. 
Most of us are just trying to find our own unique (possibly fucked up) ways to survive. That's what her essays have shown me. As a queer woman also struggling to survive, Id like to thank Lauren for sharing her story. All we want to be is heard, and understood, and I believe by sharing something so personal with the world, that might be what she wished for as well.

(I added content warnings, but like, it's someone's life and I don't really think it can be categorized into boxes but I added the ones I think could be genuinely triggering. Just keep an open mind)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual content

parablesarah's review

dark inspiring relaxing medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual violence

allwaysbecoming's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

Hough's tells her life's story through a series of essays that recount the ways that living in and leaving a famous cult shape the reclamation of her life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Drug use

quassibly's review

challenging emotional fast-paced

5.0

Lauren Hough and I share almost nothing in background or experience, but her circular thought process with it's frequent digressions that seem unrelated until she brings it all back around to connect in a way that feels entirely organic.

Separately, her essays each impart in insight into the world at large, seen through the lens of Hough's experiences -- being told that she can only be good if she conforms to a standard, being hurt by people who tell her it's for her own good, and finding herself powerless in a world where poverty is the ultimate shame.  Taken together, they tell the story of a woman who fighting to figure out how to create her own standards with only her anger and her wit to arm her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence