Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez

40 reviews

swbowers's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Alcoholism

spindere11a's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Art. Empowered women. Murder.
So many of my fave things wrapped up in a deliciously readable novel 🫶

I feel mom-level proud of Raquel. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse

slytle's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia

afrenette's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Classism

marcostorin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Classism

kingsteph's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Toxic friendship

anxietee9's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Eating disorder, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Dysphoria

Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Rape, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder

Moderate: Eating disorder and Emotional abuse

ladelgado13's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder

breanneporter's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book, even more than Olga Dies Dreaming, which I also really enjoyed. Anita de Monte Laughs Last alternates between three perspectives over the course of nearly 20 years, following renowned artist/sculptor Jack Martin, his wife and up and coming Cuban-American artist (and titular character) Anita de Monte, and 20-year-old art history student Raquel Torro, who is navigating a new (but familiar) romantic relationship and a thesis on Jack Martin when she discovers the work of the forgotten Anita, who is still very much around to haunt those who have buried her and her work. 

This novel has so much fantastic feminine rage and excellent critiques of  patriarchy and white feminism. The majority of it is an incredibly frustrating and infuriating read, with moments of righteous revenge to counterbalance the overwhelming injustice and inequity that’s happening, but the title tells you what you need to know to keep reading. Anita and Raquel are both excellent characters, set up to have so many similarities while still having such distinct voices and personas that made them both feel so real.  While I understand why we get Jack’s point of view, those were undoubtedly my least favorite chapters, as it’s hard to stomach being inside the self-righteous delusion of an evil and insecure man, but it certainly did only fuel my ire and my desire for justice. I do think that the characters of Claire and Margot were almost cartoonishly awful, (and I mean come on, that night was so bad that I can’t believe be Mavette could ever come back from it, her lack of action and support for Raquel) but I’m glad that the point was made (though these two didn’t get the justice they deserved in my mind!).  I love how Xochitl Gonzalez writes about class and privilege and womanhood and I will always read whatever she writes! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Classism