Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

219 reviews

forbiddenclues's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.0

The story stated off strong in the beginning, and it really slowed down in the middle. The last few chapters felt rushed as the plot was revealed at the end. I liked how the author writes it as a detective mystery, but there are high volumes of misogyny throughout the book. As Mental Health professional, it was interesting reading about the character's pscyhe.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Blood, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicide, and Sexual assault

psull3071's review

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt

archaicrobin's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad 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

2.0

I have had The Silent Patient on my TBR for years and was initially very excited to read it. I first added it back when I was naive and thought that being in the Best Seller list actually meant something, but now I know it’s where mediocre and terrible books are highlighted for all the wrong reasons.

The Silent Patient is incredibly mid, it’s your stereotypical thriller that starts off fine, nothing groundbreaking, but unfortunately disintegrates into this poorly written mess. I was interested for about half of the book then it just tanked completely for me. 

The writing is erratic, the twist is confusing, the plot is slow and honestly boring, and the main character Theo is a dull man with white savior complex. Overall, I wouldn’t really recommend this, there are far better thrillers out there to spend you time on. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Infidelity, Misogyny, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

5headwh0's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Cursing, Gore, Self harm, Gaslighting, Death, Drug abuse, Medical content, Blood, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Self harm, Gore, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Drug abuse, Death, and Suicide

emi__bee__'s review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Murder, Mental illness, Blood, Stalking, Infidelity, and Gaslighting

wickedgrumpy's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

1.0

I think I was unknowingly spoiled for this book years ago and had internalized the twist, even though I knew nothing else about the story, which made this pretty disappointing.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Torture, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

tabea1409's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Child abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Blood, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

lottyfarmer's review

dark emotional funny mysterious tense 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Grief, Mental illness, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Violence, Stalking, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Car accident, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death of parent and Eating disorder

lexibug's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This book kept me guessing (incorrectly) from start to finish. I've never read a book where I disliked almost every single character they presented. Even so, I still wanted to sympathize with the main characters, but the more I read, the less I could. This was a very unique read. However, the first half of the book (and really the whole thing until you get towards the end) was very slow, and I found it hard to focus or immerse myself in because of the unlikable characters. Still, I enjoyed it as an introduction/warm-up to the mystery-thriller genre and look forward to reading more like this. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, and Infidelity

Minor: Abandonment, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

spicyspookypotato's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Violence, Blood, and Suicide attempt