Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Passing by Nella Larsen

34 reviews

growintogardens's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Violence and Death

lucinotlucy's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Cultural appropriation, and Infidelity

Minor: Death and Outing

ginzura's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Hate crime, Violence, Toxic friendship, Racism, Racial slurs, and Grief

danajoy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Death

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Infidelity

eimear_jane's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Death, Outing, and Racism

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Racism

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Infidelity

Minor: Death

laindarko2's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Death

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Infidelity

Minor: Emotional abuse

katievh's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Death

Minor: Murder, Infidelity, and Death of parent

toffishay's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I am surprised that I waited so long to read this book; I really enjoyed it! This book explores themes of race, identity, and what we own others who we are in community with through the story of a Black woman "passing", moving through society as a white woman. Really though, the plot is about the relationship between Clare and Irene, what these two woman want out of their lives...and what they are willing to do to get it. If you like Sula by Toni Morrison (which I love) you'll like this book :) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, Classism, and Infidelity

Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Hate crime, War, and Bullying

marissasa's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This novella was interesting and gripping, and definitely caught me off guard on a couple occasions. I went in not knowing anything except the very basic premise that the story was about a woman, Clare, who chooses to pass as white as an adult. I was surprised to find it's more about her childhood friend Irene, who is equally fair but actively claims her Black heritage, and their reunion. Clare brings intrigue, doubt, and unrest into Irene's life but Irene is captivated by Clare's beauty, danger, and recklessness like a moth to a flame. Despite being short, the story really does pack a punch with its tension, stark contrast between the two main women, and themes of race, motherhood, loyalty, control, and security.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Racism