Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

14 reviews

_ren's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Misogyny, and Vomit

Minor: Abortion, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol

sandsing7's review

challenging dark hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Gun violence

Minor: Vomit

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Child death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Racism, Abandonment, Grief, Toxic friendship, Death, Murder, and Blood

Moderate: Drug use, Cursing, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual content, Infidelity, Abortion, Addiction, and Medical content

theespressoedition's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, and Vomit

Minor: Abortion and Sexual content

brookey8888's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Wow was this a good book. I’m so happy she decided to write this because maverick was probably one of if not my favorite character in the hate you give. I just really enjoyed getting his back story and to see how certain things came to be. This talks about such important topics. I really liked the characters in this especially the family. This book had me going through all the emotions. I’m so glad I finally read this one and enjoyed it. Plus the cover is gorgeous. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Classism, Murder, Racism, Drug use, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, and Violence

bexcapades's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Violence, Gun violence, Murder, and Drug use

cranedphoenix's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Honestly this book was real good
An emotional ride the entire way through 

From Dre's death, to Mav almost killing Red to all the babies to King being an ass

This books covers so many different topics and it actually works and doesn't feel like it's trying to do the most
I also love how complex all of the character relationships are

especially when it's obvious to everyone but Mav that his Ma and Moe are together
But I also loved Iesha, as bad as it is that she kinda left Seven with Mav, like Mav you just gotta feel for her

The only character I truly grew to dislike was ofc King, even tho he's also a bit complicated he really just ends up being reasonably and perfectly unlikeable

love the rose quote about cutting off what won't let them grow which is pretty much Mav needing to cut off King

I could probably go on and on but I'm surprised I ended up liking it so much considering I wasn't too sure if I would when i started

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Racism, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Minor: Abandonment

jessthanthree's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Drug use, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, and Toxic friendship

mattyb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Violence, Murder, and Grief

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Sexual content

Minor: Drug use

arrow_thru_my_reading_slump's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

If you loved The Hate U Give, you'll adore this book. Every dynamic between the adults in THUG has the groundwork laid in this prequel and it was so wonderfully done. 

It felt real. Each conversation felt like I could hear it spoken in my head perfectly. You truly root for Mav, even when he makes the wrong decisions. He is a fantastic main character and his journey in this book is truly beautiful. 

I also loved that this story was even given a chance, given the tough topics within. It isn't often that a YA book tackles teen pregnancy/parenthood in a positive light, with so many examples of supportive adults and sage advice from elders. Is there some tough conversations? Of course. But you could feel the love each person felt for Mav as he struggled to find himself. 

I'd love to see this given a film adaptation. My 90s kid heart loved all the music, film and sports references. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Drug use, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Abortion