Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Acts of Service

This book is as steamy as it is complex. The characters are not very likable; they all— except for Fatima, perhaps— are deeply flawed and tend to follow feeling over moral righteousness. But for some reason I was still interested in reading them even though I didn’t like them very much.

The relationship at the center of this novel is especially problematic;

the main character cheats on her girlfriend to meet Nathan/Olivia for months, and Nathan sleeps with Olivia despite him being her boss. Nathan has multiple sexual partners that know about his non-monogamy, but I still wouldn’t necessary call his way of non-monogamy “ethical.”

He’s manipulative, and even though he refutes it, definitely more self-centered than most.

I really enjoyed it, and I’m sad that it’s over, but I’m also hesitant to call it a favorite because of how problematic a lot of the themes in this book are. I have a love-hate relationship with it. As another reviewer smartly put it, the content of this book “rattles the cage of politically-correct feminism.”

Content Warnings

gorgeousgirl's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

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

0.25

reads as an extremely MFA production. it thinks it is very revolutionary and cutting by virtue of having q*eer women in the story but it's not.

none of the women are solid, they each represent a misogynistic stereotype. Romi is nurturing, Olivia is obsessive and yielding + both are selfless in this. is Eve transgressive bcz she is selfish? nope! bcz the narrative reduces her to be at her core, only vain. and Fatima, presumably a woman of colour, with Muslim? implications, is a spiritual guide/ sounding board for the more "interesting" + "complex" white woman best friend that Eve is. bcz Fatima is simple, right? there was a line early on about her attracting loyal, uncomplicated men, as the racialized woman wants and does, with her simple, "essential" (re: bioessentialist) desires.

i don't understand what important questions this book believes it is asking. can q*eer women's existence NOT revolve around a manipulative, self-absorbed cishet white man? apparently the answer is fuck no! like Ottessa Moshfegh's work, i think this is a book that claims to be fresh, with its trappings of "wokeness"🤮, but ultimately represents only the ideas of the old guard. bcz a bisexual woman will be confused, disloyal, and want only base pleasures. the things her father tells her are "easy." her concerns about contradictions of identity/privilege are shown to be foolish, and the status quo (Nathan) is proven right and rewarded continually. so "acts of service" are understood to be the dangerous manipulations of a powerful man. which as a young gay woman, it's best for you to submit to him. very disappointed

Content Warnings

oriemint's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Okay, I need to say this, to get rid of my annoyance: I HATE NATHAN WITH ALL MY HEART. I DON'T LIKE EVE AND OLIVIA. AND THE CHARACTER I LIKE IN THIS BOOK JUST FATIMA. At least she have common sense.
Urusan perselangkangan itu emang di luar logika sih ya. Ini Eve urusannya begitu. She search a fcking meaning what her sexual desire is, what her body purpose, and that's how I think she jump down and trap on this fcking stupidity. A toxic fcking buddy, with a great sense of his sexual appeals, how he can manipulate you, and how narcissistic he is. Sepanjang baca buku ini kayaknya kebanyakan cursing apa yang mereka lakuin. But hey, on the other side seenggaknya ada beberapa quotes yang bisa menjadi refleksi sih, good for questions your life and how you want to have a freedom with your sexuality, sex, and body. I admit it on that aja sih ya.

Do I have recommended you to read this? Idk, kalau penasaran ya baca aja. But I have to tell you some content warnings like sexual content, gaslighting, infidelity, emotional abuse, etc. So, kalau mau baca buku ini tolong diperhatikan warnings-nya ya~ not safe kalau ada yg bikin trigger juga sih.

Content Warnings

breacommelafromage's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

Content Warnings

charlottehaidar's review against another edition

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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

3.75

I felt the book took a turn towards the end with discussions about consent and sexual assault perhaps suggesting that in her manipulated state, Eve is an unreliable narrator.

The book doesn’t leave you with a clear answer about if this was actually assault at times or whether Nathan assaulted others. It’s very disconcerting.

Content Warnings

samsters's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective 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

I honestly cannot rate this book. It was infuriating and also page-turning. Very dissociative feminism. Clearly going for some capital D Discourse, and unfortunately I do want to see what the girlies are saying.

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