Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

63 reviews

erinreadsbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-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? Yes

3.25

Sweet, kind of predictable, and I found the main character a bit annoying at times (despite sympathizing with all her trauma and misfortune). I’m not sure if the story benefitted from her romance with Hugo, either.

Read if you like simple, heartwarming stories about people overcoming trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism and Abortion

oxfordcommas91's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

This book made me feel all the warm fuzzies. A grown up Willy Wonka, where our heroine competes to win the newest book by her favorite childhood author on his secluded island in New England. While there’s some fast paced adventure moments, this book is sweet and soft and can be savored with a nice mug of tea curled up on the couch. Easily binge-able, this is at its core an emotional tale of found family and the lengths we will go to in order to be loved. It has some heavy elements but isn’t sad, and handles complex topics of grief, illness, and even abuse with careful thought and consideration. It was a wonderful book to start the year with. I wish these people existed in real life, they are the types of characters you wish could come off the page and into your living room for a nice dinner party.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Car accident, Abortion, and Pregnancy

ofpagesandparagraphs's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual assault

savheath's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

A friend recently asked for a recommendation for a feel-good book. Told her to read this one. Definitely a warm and fuzzy, and everything gets tied in a nice bow, though there are a few story strands that probably weren’t necessary. I really liked the lawyer character, even though she really only had a small supporting role.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Alcohol

tspice24's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Pregnancy

yvo_about_books's review against another edition

4.75

 Finished reading: December 12th 2023

"Always remember that the only wishes ever granted are the wishes of brave children who keep on wishing even when it seems no one is listening because someone always is. Someone like me. Keep wishing. I’m listening."

I kept hearing fantastic things about The Wishing Game, and after I saw it was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards I decided to give in and finally read it as I hadn't read ANY of the fiction nominations yet. I'm glad I did, because I can definitely understand the love for this story now! Whimsical, heartfelt, sad, hopeful... It is hard to put this story in a neat little genre box, but I can guarantee it will win over your heart and take you on the most incredible journey. There is a lot to love in The Wishing Game... I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but what I can say is that if you love a bookish story, you will be in for an absolute treat. Both the Clock Island books, its author AND illustrator play a key role in the plot, and I loved how it showed the power and importance of books for children and adults alike. The descriptions of the Clock Island itself are wonderful, and it gave the whole story that whimsical and magical realism feel without overpowering the plot. The story was a lot heavier and sad than expected, but this was balanced with moments of hope and even a dash of romance. The characters are a true delight, and part of the reason this book works so well... This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

dhh08's review

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Grief

yarnarh's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

It’s a wonderful cozy book. Things I have issues with

- The way Lucy was so obsessed with Christopher. It doesn’t scream I love you, more like I’m obsessed and I can’t live without you.
- The age gap between Lucy and Hugo. 8 years age gap is quite a lot. I mean it make sense that Hugo have to be 21 to make his own decision and live on an island with an old man. But 13 and 21 feels like a huge gap. 
- luring kids to his clock island. He is an adult. He should know how gullible and naive little kids are. And if a Hogwarts letter come to my house as a kid I would have do whatever I can to get there.

Other than that, I love the book. Heartwarming, and magical

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Minor: Incest

milenasbooknook's review

hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Rape, and Death of parent