Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

191 reviews

sfeldmann's review against another edition

The plot really goes everywhere in this book. I tried to read it after DNFing it last year to give it another shot. I just can’t get into it. The atmosphere is great but all the themes and messages of the book are heavy handed and leave little room for the action of the characters and the plot to show the readers of just tell them. The romance isn’t bad either but it is a little bit insta-lovey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcoholism

anewton's review

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.75

Beautifully written book that explores deep concepts and trauma in a poetic, meaningful way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Bullying

cadimy's review against another edition

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

2.25

Architecture student gets chosen to design a home for her favorite author’s estate. At no point does she actually do what she was hired to do. She’s off hanging out with the other kid from her school and snooping around the house. 

I get what the author was trying to do with the heavy misogyny and how it affects the MC deeply, so I did appreciate that at times. Unfortunately I had no connection to any of the characters- they fell so flat and there was no chemistry to be found.

Also, little to no backstory on the fairy king?? Why was he hanging around? He was apparently “stuck” on the estate because of the trees and berries everywhere but that doesn’t explain how he escaped to almost steal the MC? She said she saw him all of the time, but how? Not much story building, and the backstory of the north vs south seemed unnecessary other than to sprinkle in some racism for the characters. 

I listened to the audiobook on a road trip, and the fact that I finished it gives it 2 stars, maybe 2.5. I was kind of hoping for a dark ending where her love interest was over taken by the fairy king.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, Death, Car accident, Bullying, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Animal death, and Gaslighting

Minor: Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

applejuiceinabox's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

really enjoyed it. i havent read a book this fast in a long time. but it’s not YA? i don’t think a full sex scene and graphic descriptions of sexual harassment should be marketed as YA. but maybe that’s just me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Misogyny

Minor: War and Injury/Injury detail

codyemma's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

reachingforstardust's review

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Alcoholism

probablytoolate's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Sexual assault

120read's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

kaylamullarkey's review

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

annatl4's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I love the detail of Ava Reid’s books. The two characters were wonderful and the plot was perfectly paced. I enjoyed the feministic theme of the book and how Effy defied the societies norms. I appreciated preston’s kind heart and the way he fought for Effy to be seen as a woman in the literary world. The story was spooky and dark at some points but was well balanced with the romantic atmosphere and seriousness of literature. I also appreciated the depiction of mental health as well, it made Effy seem so real and allowed the reader to be empathetic. In addition to Effy’s struggle with mental health, Reid did a great job at tying both Effy and Preston’s childhood trauma into the story to create depth to their character. I loved this novel almost as much as I loved Reid’s Juniper and Thorne. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Gore