Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

6 reviews

ford_defect's review

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This book felt like it was written by someone who probably used true crime Tumblr in the early to mid 2010s, jotted down an idea (or maybe started writing it) for one of their problematic OTPs, went to college and learned how to write, and then turned what was initially a fanfic into a literary thriller. As someone who was pretty active on Tumblr in the early to mid 2010s, I did enjoy reading this because of that familiar feeling it gave me.

Like a guy beating up another guy, but intimately??? Saying "I hate you so much" after having passionate sex????? I lived for that kind of thing.

Though, generally I'm more of a plot guy, and the plot isn't very structured (but it really doesn't have to be). This story wasn't boring as a whole, but the prose was dense and boring for me at times. I don't fault the author for it. I think it's that this type of book (character-led--and unlikable characters at that) isn't really my thing, but I have rated it higher than other books that weren't really my thing. And unlike other books that aren't my thing, I am considering getting a copy to re-read sometime in the far future.  

4/5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, Antisemitism, Body shaming, and Bullying

Minor: Classism and War

ashlikes's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Bullying, Sexual violence, Animal death, Sexism, Vomit, and War

fionamclary's review

4.5

This book is like if The Secret History and A Separate Peace had an even sadder, gayer baby.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Grief, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Drug use

Minor: Sexual content, War, Racism, Bullying, and Xenophobia

sam_pvmind's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

I can’t rate this book, idk what to think, but I can’t in good confidence give it a low or high rating. I had a love and hate relationship with it like the two main characters. 

It was the most challenging reading experience I had AND I READ A LITTLE LIFE. This book is full of misery, toxicity, and hurt. It was draining me of all my joy and I guess that was the goal of this book to make me feel this way. That’s a sign of good writing however as well-written as it is I couldn’t get a grasp of what the characters were saying or the meaning behind their words, it felt like trying to catch smoke with my hands. The lack of clarity in this book made this read even more difficult and not an enjoyable reading experience.

Paul and Julian… Julian and Paul… there was nothing beautiful in their relationship only cold calculated love, and no warmth that could redeem all the toxicity and emotional abuse. Why were they attracted to each other in the first place? I guess I’ll never know.

I think I would have enjoyed this book better if it was written in the first person, maybe that would have made it less confusing for me. 

I can see that this book has something special but it was not made for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Murder

Moderate: Car accident

foreverinastory's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

 This was almost a dark romance... so close!

Rep: Achillen Jewish MC, rich achillean love interest, Jewish side character, Black side characters.

CWs: Alcohol consumption, animal death (MC collects butterflies), antisemitism, blood death, emotional abuse, gaslighting, homophobia, self harm (purposeful burns), sexual content including dominance, murder and planning of murder, toxic relationship, violence, mental illness (depression), bullying, grief, kidnapping, stalking, suicide, death of parent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide, and Death of parent

biblioleah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

this book reads like heartache. it is a book about people who are hurting and in turn want to hurt the world for what it’s done to them. it is not a love story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship