Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas

20 reviews

ivanis_marie's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I need someone older 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism

xenia28's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Infidelity

Warning because some people are not able to handle stuff like this and I would have appreciated a warning because I cried for a week haha Spoiler: Cheating is a part and a plot in this book

mproper1's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Classism, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Grief, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

mishasbooks's review against another edition

relaxing medium-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol

art_books_chemistry's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Cursing, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexism, Classism, Car accident, and Abandonment

dizneytree's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

It’s a forbidden love.  But it’s one you can’t stop reading about.  It hooked me.   I felt the sadness and happiness in this book.  Definitely worth a read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Sexual harassment and Domestic abuse

eveling_99's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Addiction

Minor: Pregnancy and Abandonment

brittneydye19's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

annabananadel's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

3.0

 “Birthday wishes don’t always come true, so I don’t waste a chance when I blow out a candle.” 

It was a fun read (or listen since I've done this in audiobook) and actually a good slow burn book. It was a first for me to read a romance between an ex-boyfriend's dad who is around 35-40s and a girl who is only just entered her twenties. It's a huge age gap, which I usually mind but for some reason, not in this book. I actually like how they initially started, even after knowing it's their boyfriend/son who is the connection between them both. I was pretty much invested half-way through and when they've gotten together. The last 2 hours of the book was kind of a blur for me, but mostly my fault since I was out shopping for books (lol) so I wasn't able to focus but maybe sometime, when I feel like it, I'll come back and listen with more focus on the last few chapters. I'm still pretty iffy on the reconciliation between Pike and his son, so I really need to re-listen to it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Alcoholism

Moderate: Sexual assault

laurenvoice's review against another edition

funny sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

Birthday Girl was addictive and fun.

The slow build-up to Jordan's and Pike's relationship was intense; you could feel their attraction from the start. However, when they finally got together, the story became a tad dull and repetitive; if they had communicated, they would have caused less heartache, especially for Jordan.

Also, I had a problem with how Pike was described as "one of the good ones" because he was not. He referred to Jordan as a "toy" and treated her like a child; if you think of someone as a child and too young, don't get into a relationship with them when you are a fully grown adult, it's creepy. He was over-controlling too. So, my point is, should he really be described as "one of the good ones"? Because, in all honesty, Jordan deserved better.

That being said, Pike did, at times, reflect on his controlling behaviour towards Jordan, but although he gave a good apology, he should have looked to change that behaviour. In the end, we saw some change, but there needed to be more to show that type of behaviour is never acceptable in any relationship and that there should never be a power imbalance.

While on the topic of men's behaviour towards women, Cole needed to be called out for his toxic behaviour. He may not have been violent like Jordan's ex, Jay, but Cole still treated Jordan like dirt. I don't recall him ever owning up or apologising to Jordan about his actions and behaviour; he ignored her for months and thought he had a right to be mad at her for moving on from that toxic relationship.

All that said, Birthday Girl was an enjoyable read, and the references to the song "Guys My Age" were a fun touch. Plus, Jordan's character development was good to read. She took back her power from all those men that treated her like dirt. It was good seeing Jordan taking control and proving to everyone that she is stronger and more capable than Pike and everyone else believes her to be. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Grief, Alcoholism, Car accident, Death, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse