Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

4 reviews

dianaschmidty's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-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

4.0

Wow, this was a tough, but good book. Kennedy Ryan’s writing is amazing at making you experience what the characters are feeling, both good and bad.

Let’s start off with the good feelings. I absolutely love August West! He was basically exactly what Iris needed exactly when she needed him. They were perfect together, once they were given their chance. I love how the ending talked about soulmates, because they are two characters that make me believe in that idea too. I also loved Iris, especially her character growth in the wake of the suffering she endured.

While this book has a lot of triggering content, I think Kennedy Ryan handled it very well. She brought to life the cruelty in this world, but also offered hope in the wake of that cruelty.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Classism, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Misogyny, Confinement, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity, Stalking, Grief, and Police brutality

Minor: Death of parent, Abortion, and Miscarriage

teachreadrepeat's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

Holy wow! I saw a TikTok that said, "Instead of reading IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover, you should read LONG SHOT by Kennedy Ryan." Boy am I glad I listened to that recommendation?? I devoured this book in less than 2 days.

First and foremost, let's get the elephant out of the way. There are graphic, on-page depictions of DV and SA throughout a large portion of this book. This violence is not between the end game couple and is very difficult to stomach, so take care of yourself while reading this one if it's a trigger for you. However, I am so impressed with Ryan's ability to shed light on this very real issue with such care and dignity for victims. DV is an issue that still goes largely ignored and is so often twisted by a society of people who have never experienced it themselves and are unwilling to empathize with those who have. While these scenes are challenging to get through, I think Ryan did a phenomenal job of digging deep into the manipulation tactics that often keep partners trapped in this cycle of abuse. I hope this book also helps victims reconcile what has happened to them OR helps them finally find the courage and ability to walk away for good.

Next, let's discuss August. Oh my good golly gosh!! He is seriously the perfect "man written by a woman." Basketball is one of my favorite sports and it was refreshing to read a sports romance that wasn't hockey (even though I do love me some ice boys as well). August's devotion to Iris was beautiful and heartwrenching and the long journey to the HEA was well worth it in the end.

This book earned 4.5 stars from me simply due to the amount of typos/errors in the KU digital version I read. Even so, I am very excited to continue reading the rest of this series!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Rape, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Police brutality, and Cursing

shaipanda's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

This is a dark story. That needs to be made absolutely and incredibly clear. I know a lot of other reviews have mentioned it (as they should) but I couldn’t not mention it in mine as well because as amazing as this book is and as loving and amazing as Iris and Autumn’s relationship is, the most important thing to know going into this is how dark, graphic and difficult to read it is for a large part of the book. 
That being said though the book is also amazing and thought it was incredibly well done for the super heavy topics it covers 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Police brutality, and Blood

Minor: Infidelity

andycob's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Confinement, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Violence

Minor: Vomit and Abortion