Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Acts of Service

this from the very beginning was a 5 star read. i had high expectations and was hooked instantly. passages were highlighted. sexuality and queerness and it’s power dynamics and feminism and gender are all topics i love. the frustration. i love all of it. but it leaves me with wanting more. i feel like it could’ve used a couple more pages. i don’t really know what is missing. but something is.
this book makes me so fucking sad.
i feel this sadness is inescapable.

feminist eve coerced into testifying for nathan.

i definitely know this book is not for everyone and know that it will be either hated or loved or even a sad confused medium.

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litstyleguide's review against another edition

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5.0

I THINK I really loved this?? I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that addresses sexual desire like this one does. It celebrates it, makes it feel reverent, and it was incredibly thought-provoking. This book won’t be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of Sally Rooney, I think you’ll really love this. I can’t stop thinking about this one. Just a really great read, y’all.

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lenaschrn's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

2.5

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graff_fuller's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This book is very disturbing. When I was given this book to read (by a friend...which now I am contemplating WHY) I was thinking it was one thing (which it was), but in a lot of way, it was something totally different and disturbing.

It was obviously erotic, just look at the cover, but put the protagonist (and the reader) in a difficult position. Eve is her own person with so many of her relationships, but at Nathan's introduction to her life, he takes away her power in a seductive, but perverse way.

By the end of the book...I hated Nathan SO much. I also didn't like Eve. I had lost confidence in her during the story. I didn't want that to happen, but it did.

I wanted more for Eve, but feel that she had gotten sidetracked by Nathan...which also corrupted her...possibly forever. She will NEVER see the world the way she did BEFORE knowing Nathan.

Her head was been messed up (scambled). This was truly a mental abuse, done on her, but on all the women that Nathan had. Grooming (not just by age, but by belief). One way to experience sex through being taught his viewpoint.

It was also a way of viewing Stockhom Syndrome, though they weren't physically tethered, but they were truly mentally tethered. It was like he was a cultish leader on his sexual prowess.

After finishing the book, I felt dirty. I need a palette cleanser.

The REAL revelation at the end...makes it even worse. Ugh. Filfhy.

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natked's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective fast-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

4.0

Okay, wow, what a great read. Three pretentious unlikeable characters that dwell on beauty, sex and power way more than I could ever deem bearable. Still, it makes for a really engaging read which at times makes you really reflect and at times leaves you feeling annoyed, thinking why would anyone spend this much time reflecting on it?

I really loved the writing and I'm definitely reading any future release from this author.

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