Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

186 reviews

wlreed312's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-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

4.5

I really enjoyed this. There is a lot of humor at the beginning, but as the story went on and things became more serious, the tension ramped up and I was worried for everyone in the end. I think Orlando did a great job considering the characters aren't really likable, but as the book unfolds you start to understand why they are the way they are. I wish we had a short epilogue, maybe a few months after the final events, or maybe some more backstory on a couple of minor characters. But those are pretty minor nitpicks, overall I thought this was fantastic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Physical abuse, Body horror, Death, Alcoholism, Gore, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

micallab's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Violence, Vomit, and Child death

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Forced institutionalization

jourdanicus's review against another edition

dark reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book is great allegory for

domestic abuse

and the kind of family relationships that follow the pattern of suppressing/repressing emotions with a satisfying, gory horror ending. I did feel the language could have been cleaned up a bit - I'm not offended by  swearing but I think there was more than necessary to get the point across. There were also some details that felt a bit more repetitive than necessary to get the point across.

Otherwise, this was almost a perfect 5 star read for me. I love horror that mixes psychological thrill with physical horror, and an unreliable narrator is one of my favorite tropes. In fact, this book made clever use of a few recognizable horror tropes without them being too obvious or heavy handed. I heard elements of The Shining, and several horror movies of which I can't think of the names.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys psychological horror, mother/daughter relationship themes, stories with unreliable narrators, fans of classic horror, and Stephen King fans. Don't read while eating if you're sensitive or have a vivid visual imagination... Lol.

Mind the triggers, but everyone including the children get

justice and a happy ending

!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Dementia, Murder, Animal death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Torture

Minor: Vomit and Suicide

archaicrobin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

The September House was absolutely gruesome in so many ways, I absolutely loved it. I am always on the search for the next great haunted house read and September House is now one of my top ten.  Margaret is living in a haunted house that acts up every September but she’s learned to live with it. According to Margaret everything is survivable, as long as you follow the rules….

Filled with real and supernatural terrors, this book was addictive and hard to out down. Highly recommend especially if you love haunted house horror. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Child death, Blood, Dementia, Torture, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

linora's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book made me laugh out loud and made me cry. It was written beautifully and I have a feeling that I will be thinking about it for a long time. 

I'm debated between giving it 4.75 and 5 stars, and decided to upgrade it to 5 stars because of a few scenes that were written with such care and understanding while still maintaining their humor. I do think the metaphor weakened towards the end as the plot transitioned into more traditional horror, but I loved it anyway

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Self harm, Death of parent, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Stalking, Torture, Vomit, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

shantuck13's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Dementia, Confinement, Suicide, and Gaslighting

randilion28's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.25

I really enjoyed this audiobook - finished in less than a week. I loved the Haunted House and the Pranksters.... BUT I don't think I have EVER disliked a character more than I have Margarets daughter... If I didn't enjoy the story so much - I would have quite reading after she was introduced. She is a hard character to vibe with. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, and Physical abuse

Minor: Child abuse

hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

They almost had me with that fake out at the end but I’m so glad it ended how it did. I can’t fathom how the justice system will handle the latest events of the house but that ain’t my business, I suppose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Grief

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

chellyfishing's review

dark funny 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Suicide, and Alcoholism

babayagareads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This follows Margaret, who is, above-all, proper. Her voice is so prim, it leans toward endearing and funny. I feel I know her and appreciate her. This book is riddled in metaphor,

almost all concerning varieties of domestic violence and spousal abuse

. 

I read this on my phone, which made keeping track of the page count difficult, but also when I thought it was over, it was NOT over. And I was angry with where I thought it was going to end. Visceral disappointment. Luckily, I was wrong and there was the true climax around the corner. 

The true climax's metaphors floored me.

The women and children rising up against the abuser and the POLICE (especially the male officers) felt all too familiar. Jasper, the other male ghost of the house, and presumably Hal, were silent bystanders to Master Vale's demise.

I love a haunted house story that doesn't demonize all the ghosts, but also doesn't shy away from their misdeeds. 

This one avoids too much gory detail at the begin, but holds no punches as the story progresses, much in line with the main character's mindset as the month goes on. Do not read this book if you cannot handle gore, especially toward

children and birds.

Some of my favorite themes here beyond the haunted house component: strained relationships between mother and daughter, close quarters cohabitation, exorcisms, and seedy motels/bars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Gore, and Child death