Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Acts of Service by Lillian Fishman

22 reviews

starswirlsheart's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

this from the very beginning was a 5 star read. i had high expectations and was hooked instantly. passages were highlighted. sexuality and queerness and it’s power dynamics and feminism and gender are all topics i love. the frustration. i love all of it. but it leaves me with wanting more. i feel like it could’ve used a couple more pages. i don’t really know what is missing. but something is.
this book makes me so fucking sad. 
i feel this sadness is inescapable. 

feminist eve coerced into testifying for nathan.

i definitely know this book is not for everyone and know that it will be either hated or loved or even a sad confused medium.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

litstyleguide's review against another edition

5.0

I THINK I really loved this?? I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that addresses sexual desire like this one does. It celebrates it, makes it feel reverent, and it was incredibly thought-provoking. This book won’t be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of Sally Rooney, I think you’ll really love this. I can’t stop thinking about this one. Just a really great read, y’all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting and Sexual assault

sydneybedell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Gaslighting and Sexual assault

emeryl's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault

hulkytwobelts's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

1.0

The story did not live up to the blurb or recommendations, quite bland and very toxic relationships on show. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

lizzie_r's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexual content, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexism, Blood, and Sexual assault

mahry's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

The female protagonist gets really badly manipulated into emotional and sexual stuff. But it isnt exactly portraid as that. Just till the very end, she things this is love she feels towards him.

frantically's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-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

4.0

I don't know how to review this without feeling like I'm killing my inner feminist. Would recommend if you're into really fucked up/weird relationships & discussions about sexuality. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

selfbybee's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I am solidly sitting a 3.5 to 4 stars right now but I imagine I may comeback to this review as I cannot stop unpacking this book in my head for so many reasons.

cw: sexual violence, coercion, cheating, toxic romantic relationship, homophobia(lesbo and biphobia), mentions of -ape, gaslighting

I am trying to find a very succinct way to say this story is a very thin white feminist exploration of hedonism, BDSM themes, (poor) polyamory, sexual desire and vanity. If that seems like a lot of themes at once that's because this book is JAM PACKED with the inner workings of a unlikable late 20 year old.

Eve is unlikable in every sense of the word feeling "unfulfilled" while coasting through life on that coattails of her generational wealth. There are many poignant lines, and and I enjoy some of her thoughts around sex, desire and how for women & femmes those concepts feel flimsy and hard to grasp--and shameful when embraced & celebrated because of our social conditioning.

That's all I can think of right now I will comeback to this review because I have no clue how to even approach Olivia and Nathan the (2) parties involved in the polyam aspect of this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia and Biphobia

Moderate: Sexual assault

breacommelafromage's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Rape