Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

13 reviews

fallenstarr's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? No

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Classism, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

Decent read- the first half was super slow for me but the 2nd half was captivating. This can be shown by how even though I read this book over 20 days, the last 50% were all in one day! It was pretty predictable but despite the outcome not being a shocker, I still felt all of the tension as things came into place. I also did not really like most of the characters but some who I really disliked for the majority of the book did get to me near the end. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Racism, and Self harm

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, Bullying, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

abigailsmathews's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Minor: Sexual content

phoebe_erh's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

While I at first found the characters way too unlikable and annoyingly privelliged, as the book progressed and their flaws became highlighted I found it a great read. I had some difficulty distinguishing some of the players but eventually got used to having so many characters. the beginning is a bit weak due to how annoying they were before they encountered difficulty and how weird their school and traditions are as a non American, but it is worth holding on past this for the pay off of the book overall.

having Adam as the killer despite many potential suspects and also his closeness to Jill made the twist even more intense. i also loved the self awareness to make it that what effectively killed Shaila was the power that came with being a player and how Adam’s self entitlement as a result of this made it easier for him to become cruel and manipulative in a way that was unimaginable.  Also having an ending other than them disbanding the players would have been really frustrating so the ending really rounded the book out. </spoilers>

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Car accident

kerryac's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I liked the idea of this book, and I do like the way it played out, however as someone who actually knows how high school kids act, it was too unrealistic for me. It was very much a frat/sorority hazing story set in a high school secret society, but the pressure of setting yourself up for a successful future is a vital detail that requires it to be set in high school. I just can’t picture any baby-faced 14 year olds I know following through with all this AND keeping it a secret.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Alcohol

cepbreed's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious

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

4.0

Why is it always the private schools in the North east?? Rich people are crazy. I really enjoyed this book and honestly was inspired to write a little based on its plot, and shocking applicability to my hometown. The plot twist is predictable, but when the twist is done well that's never a bad thing. I found out by chance that Sydney Sweeney will be starring in and producing an adaptation through this app actually and I'm so excited. I don't know if everything is confirmed yet, but I hope they host an open call. Speaking of the cast Halsey is going to be in it and I bet she'll play Rachel, to be frank she looks wayyy too old to play a teenager. I was unable to put this book down and finished it in one day, at 1 am on a school night to be specific, so I cannot recommend it more. I just know these kids listen to a shit ton of Kanye.

Songs: 

• Heartless - Kanye
• National Anthem - Lana Del Rey 
• Royals - Lorde

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death, Bullying, Classism, Drug use, Murder, Sexism, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Sexual content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Pedophilia

untanglingbooks's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Toxic relationship

camlreads_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

this book got me into a big reading slump 😐😐 . but the ending was good enough that I gave it a 2.75/5 ...

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

marissa_ann's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Confinement