Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

We the Animals by Justin Torres

5 reviews

uhhjeepers's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.75

Read for school.

This is a fast-paced, vignette styled narrative that tells the coming of age story of the youngest of three brothers. This book really came together for me at the end, and I strongly recommend it. It is emotional and honest and the writing is spectacular. The growth from the narrative feeling like it’s told from a child to a teenager really stuck with me, like I could read the changes on the page.

Check for TWs. They’re brief and don’t go into excruciating detail, but I still definitely felt them.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Outing, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization

kananineko's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Abandonment, Body horror, Cursing, Homophobia, Outing, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Racism, Alcohol, Blood, Self harm, and Bullying

sirenaluna's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This coming of age story is told in vignettes of different events in the childhood of the main character and his brothers. Torres’ writing is beautiful, lyrical and breathtaking in a way that had me pause to read certain lines over and over again. It is definitely a shorter book, and some of the vignettes are a little vague/sparse, but this little book really digs itself a place in your heart and takes root.

Only thing is that I wish the ending had a bit more subtle build up throughout. There were some hints sprinkled in certain parts if you read back but I definitely think there could’ve been more to really drive the ending home. It is still impactful, but could’ve been much more so.

But overall, it is a beautifully story about a complicated family and how the consequences of the parent’s behavior manifest in their children.

As a Puerto Rican myself, I related to and understood a lot of the cultural aspects the book touches on, and especially loved how it critiques the machismo that is so prevalent in minority communities.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

bay22's review against another edition

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Sexual content, Child abuse, Cursing, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abandonment, Racism, Grief, Hate crime, Blood, Body shaming, and Forced institutionalization

Near drowning CW. Dental medical injury CW.

emma_hensley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship