Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher

16 reviews

edietz22's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Classism, Gaslighting, Addiction, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

Minor: Vomit, Classism, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Terminal illness

sierrabedwell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I really liked this book! It is about two people who work at Dreamland aka a knock off of Disney. There is a family secret involving billions of dollars at stake. I really enjoyed the fact that her sister had a disability. I think that people with disabilities aren’t mentioned enough in popular books so it came as a nice surprise, especially at the end when he proposed that Dreamlands character costumes include prosthetics, wheelchairs, and other types of disabilities. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death, and Gaslighting

ellawatwat's review against another edition

funny inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Pregnancy

kirareadssometimes's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.25

I’m not a big fan of domineering, alpha male mmcs who feel like the epitome of the male gaze. And that is who Rowan is. While he has some character development, I had such a hard time rooting for him. Zahra was more likable but her constant lack of confidence got old. Oh and the not quite insta love but might as well have been. Ughh. 
The parts of the book I liked were all secondary plots; Zahra’s sister and Rowan’s relationship and Rowan learning about the importance of paying employees fairly and providing them with proper care and benefits. These things did feel really preachy though. Idk not my fav and prob won’t continue the series unless I’m really stuck in a rut or out of things to read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, and Ableism

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Alcoholism

bbygirl21's review against another edition

challenging hopeful mysterious slow-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

3.75

I was a little disappointed in this book. Don't get me wrong I still quite enjoyed reading this book. I liked the Disneyland type aspect of the story and I loved how it talked about inclusivity and diversity in all ways. It's just the pacing of the whole story was too slow in my opinion. 

And I didn't like that there were two major conflicts/break up scenes in this book and I think it could've only done with one at most. I can't tell you which one I would get rid of, because quite frankly I didn't like either of them, but I do know having two portions of the book focused on that was unnecessary when they're could've only been one section focusing on a conflict/breakup period. 

I also have mixed feelings on both MC's. Rowan (MMC) was an asshole through and through for a giant portion of this book. And while I'm understanding of Zahra's feelings on the things Rowan said and did to her, I felt a bit frustrated with her. The way she didn't let Rowan explain anything and the way she jumped to conclusions a lot made me very anxious and frustrated. Like I said, I'm not excusing Rowan's actions/behavior, because it was quite unforgivable even coming from a place of understanding of his past, but I just felt like they should've talked things out like adults and that's what Rowan was trying to do, whereas Zahra wasn't. In my opinion it seemed she just wanted to avoid things until they're unavoidable.

There are things I liked about both characters, like I loved that Zahra had a very sunshine outlook on life. Yes it is sometimes just a way to cover up her true feelings, but for the most part, she tries to exude positive energy especially around others so she doesn't negatively affect others. And I love how deep down Rowan has this sweet caring nature for others. Despite the way he presents himself to the general public, he has this deep seeded care for people in less fortunate situations. You can clearly see that with how he is with Ani and how he immediately helped Martha when he found out she has to work to jobs with a hurt foot/leg. But for the most part Rowan and Zahra were a big letdown to what I was expecting going into this. And how much I like the MC's plays a big part into my overall enjoyment of book.

I think my favorite part of this book were the side characters and the theme park storyline. I loved seeing the progression toward making the park more inclusive and diverse. I loved Ani, she's such a little sweetheart, wanting to help her sister be happy. And she's so adorable with her boyfriend JP. I also really liked Martha as well.  

So would I recommend this, maybe, I'd like to say yes but I'm not entirely sure. I'll let the other two books decide for whether it's worth it to read this one or not. I'll most likely say yes, but will see. I thought it was an enjoyable for the most part. Enough for me to keep going until I finished it. It had a great plotline and some great character development in the long run. I loved the ending seeing how Rowan's final plans for Dreamland start to come into effect and I loved seeing him and Zahra together despite their toxic and rocky beginning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Minor: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Addiction, Cancer, and Death

takarakei's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.25

I went into this knowing nothing besides having read this author before so being familiar with their style. I was not expecting a ‘family that owns basically disneyworld’ billionaire romance. I didn’t personally jive with setup for the relationship and there being two times the Rowan betrayed Zahra (the justification was lackluster). I’ll continue the series cause I think the premise of this relationship just didn’t do it for me especially as a workplace romance. I also personally did not need two epilogues. 

4/5🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Infidelity

Minor: Ableism, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

otakubishh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Gaslighting, and Fatphobia

maryam_reads246's review against another edition

It was getting too boring for me. The starting was amazing but the rest.. Eh. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Gaslighting

ifoundcallie's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Classism, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Minor: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Child abuse

psydneigh's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

2.5

I hated Rowan so much. He doesn’t treat employees as people. Zahra apologies when her family mentions that they can’t afford vacations because of him which made me really dislike her judgement. Him changing was solely for the selfish desire to have Zahra, not for actual growth. Did not like this one.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Cancer, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship