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labbyreads's review
2.0
If You Tell by Gregg Olsen takes readers on a heart-wrenching journey through the chilling true story of Shelly Knotek and the unimaginable abuse inflicted on her children. Olsen commendably highlights the victims' resilience, but the focus on family dynamics falls short of expectations. The characters feel one-dimensional, missing an opportunity to explore the psychology behind Shelly's actions. The dense and graphic content, coupled with a dragging middle section, makes for a challenging read. The pacing issues and a disjointed timeline contribute to a somewhat dissatisfying experience. While capturing unimaginable horrors, If You Tell falls short of being the best true crime, offering an okay but flawed narrative.
Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Excrement, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Murder, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Violence, Torture, Animal death, Gaslighting, and Death
bhahnert's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Child abuse, Body horror, Stalking, Cursing, Child death, Homophobia, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
spookysierra's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Gaslighting, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Addiction, and Violence
nanirump's review
3.5
Graphic: Excrement, Murder, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Bullying
systemofanoun's review
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Slavery, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Cancer, Body shaming, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Animal death
asmokeybear's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Cursing, Confinement, Drug use, Torture, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Excrement, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
megansreading's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Excrement, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt
ohyeahshebomb's review
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Abandonment, Violence, Addiction, Excrement, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Torture, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit, Medical trauma, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
kimmykelly's review
3.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Excrement, Outing, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Vomit, Gaslighting, Gore, Violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
twistykris's review against another edition
3.75
I understand how difficult it must have been to compile all of this information from multiple people, but at times the book felt very repetitive and used a lot of unnecessary metaphors.
Also, I have
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism and Animal cruelty