Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

So Happy for You by Celia Laskey

6 reviews

audreyxine's review

dark funny reflective fast-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? Yes

3.0

The characters were so interesting and I found Robin to be incredibly relatable (I may be a walking red flag because of this though). I had so much fun reading this and flew through it super fast. I thought the social commentary was thoughtful and interesting, but didn't leave a lot of room for nuance. It's refreshing to hear commentary from a queer woman who clearly hates everyone. I wish the escalation was more dramatic and drawn out, and I think I definitely enjoyed the satirical elements more than the actual story.  'm not a huge fan of the ending.

it was annoying and absurd to see the friendship be redeemed and the character exposition was really over the top and on the nose. I wish Robin kept her angry gay insufferable bitchiness and for these women to rip each other apart.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship

stacy837's review

dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: Medical content and Murder

Minor: Drug use, Death of parent, Blood, Alcohol, and Vomit

bookworm247's review

dark emotional funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, and Injury/Injury detail

pey333's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Animal death

Moderate: Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Sexism

Minor: Abortion and Cultural appropriation

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

dark funny reflective 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? Yes

4.5

 
Robin and Ellie have been best friends since childhood but as they’ve gotten older their friendship has had its ups and downs and they no longer have a lot in common. But when Ellie is due to get married she really wants Robin by her side as maid-of-honour. And Robin, despite reservations about marriage in general and Ellie’s fiancé in particular, agrees.

While telling one cohesive story this book felt like a combination of at least three genres. Parts of it definitely fit the “women’s fiction” genre with Robin and Ellie’s backstories and their now complicated friendship. There is also a lot of satire in the sections focussed on wedding planning. If you’ve ever thought that too much time and money goes into weddings and all the associated events (showers, multi-day bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, post-wedding parties…), felt uncomfortable about the pressure to marry and some of the associated customs (brides being “given away” and wearing white to signal virginity), or laughed at the excesses of some bridezillas then parts of this book will have you simultaneously laughing and rolling your eyes. And then the story takes a darker turn veering into suspense/thriller territory when it takes the concept of a woman who will do anything to guarantee the success of her marriage to a whole new level. Add dystopian/speculative fiction into the mix as well, because this is set in society where the pressure to marry and stay married has become immense - women who have not married by a certain age are labelled “rotten”.

A thoroughly engaging and entertaining read, one that had me laughing, raging and perching nervously on the edge of my chair. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Homophobia

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Abortion

Minor: Vomit, Religious bigotry, Racism, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, and Infidelity