Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Chlorine by Jade Song

37 reviews

_sappho_wannabe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.75

This book was so intense and horrifying in the perfect way. If you liked Our Wives Under the Sea you would like this.
Would be 5 stars if I could see myself rereading but I don’t.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Body shaming, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Moderate: Violence, Gore, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment

szuum's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Body horror, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

adhesivedolphin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

Holy. Shit. I was recommended this book and it's one of the most intense things I've ever read. I wanted to share it with some friends, but this is one of those books that is tailor-made for a specific kind of person. I was lucky enough to be one of those people. I feel like some of the themes of Sorrowland are also at play here. I felt so strongly for Ren and Cathy through the story. This is one of those stories that's hard to talk about without spoiling it. So if you're into sapphic, body and psychological horror and feminist themes, read this!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Gore, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Body horror, and Bullying

Moderate: Sexual violence, Body shaming, and Sexual assault

ajiinaaa's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Body horror

Moderate: Eating disorder and Child abuse

Minor: Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

ems_bean's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Body horror, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Medical content, Self harm, Physical abuse, Blood, Eating disorder, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Abandonment

aliclare's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

Magical realism

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Gore, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

faeriefangss's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Self harm, Gore, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Blood, Drug use, Body horror, and Emotional abuse

stellahadz's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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 was a beautifully profound read. It's a dark take on the coming-of-age story, exploring the violent underside of competitive sports and the physical and emotional anguish of teenage girlhood. It was fascinating to watch Ren become so consumed by her sport that it (literally) transforms who she is. As someone who did competitive swimming briefly, Ren's mindset resonated with me, and it was bittersweet to dive (no pun intended) back into that world. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Blood

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Medical content

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

I think I am still trying to get my mind around what I just read. So I am giving it 4 stars, I think? 

At the start of this book you meet Ren Yu, a girl that born for the water. It starts with a love for mermaids and joining the swim team, it then slowly evolves into something else. This is a coming of age story that deals with tons of problems and pressures of being a teenage girl, both physically and mentally. 

This book doesn’t have tons of dialogue but that could be by design Ren is so obsessed and driven she doesn’t really need anyone else. Even though she does have a best friend in Cathy who she tolerates best among everyone. As you read it is very easy to get deeper up into her all in mentality and slow entry into reality of becoming a mermaid. 

Another really good novel by a debut author! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Body horror, Dysphoria, Bullying, Mental illness, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gore, Body shaming, Drug use, Cursing, Self harm, and Sexual content

viv_pcu's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-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

4.0

This was the most disturbing thing I’ve read in a while. Props.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault