Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Credence by Penelope Douglas

236 reviews

vbarker91's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

smartcookiesca's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

machteldv's review against another edition

emotional

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Self harm, and Pregnancy

everythinginbetween's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

So I really struggled with how to rate this book. The writing was SO well done, and Tiernan made incredible growth as the story progressed, but I struggled with the characters and namely, some of the choices made by these characters. Noah was probably the most likeable, and even then, I feel like he was advantageous of a GIRL who was struggling with the loss of her negligent parents. (Jake was even worse in this regard. I really couldn't stand him.)

I'm still uncertain about how I feel about Kaleb- part of me wants to like him. My heart aches for him, but his trauma doesn't justify how he treated Tiernan- especially in the beginning. There were moments where I felt I could forgive his behavior- holding her each night through her night terrors, protecting her from Terrance, the birthday gift, the hidden notes in his books... but then I also feel he should have made his feelings known in a concrete way (even more so considering her need for words). While I understand her pull towards Kaleb considering how they're both quiet and closed off, I feel Noah should have had a happier ending. I wish he could have found the connection he found with Tiernan with someone in a romantic sense.

Overall, this is a great read if you can look past some of the taboo. Tiernan really does grow into herself in such a short amount of time and appropriately stands up for herself when the time comes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Cancer

meg53's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Alcohol

katepalmer's review against another edition

0.5

What the fuck. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment

sam_willson's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

kelinickole's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

1.5

First of all- what the fuck was that

Second of all- I would just like to know why Tiernan started out as 17 when she could have been 18/19 from the start and just gone to the mountain to get away from the tabloids/paparazzi. The step family taboo would still be there without grooming a minor. It would have made the book 10x less awful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent

karouty's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

1.0

Justice for Noah wth was even this book istg I can't... if your looking for dark romance STAY AWAY. This is just a poor excuse to write about rape and grooming of a 17 later 18 yo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

allieraj's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

5.0

Coming back to dark romance this was a great come back. I can see why people wouldnt enjoy it however i really enjoyed the dynamic of the main characters. It is very detail heavy and it does take a while for the good spicy bits but hang in there cuz it gets good fast and the drama doesnt end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Blood, and Pregnancy