Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Almond by Won-pyung Sohn

35 reviews

jeanned_arc's review

dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

alexisgarcia's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Violence, Grief, Medical content, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Murder, and Death

teabrewer's review

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

When this book was first shown to me, it was described as Yunjae's story but it actually both Yunjae and Gon's. Two young boys called monsters and rejected by society for different reasons. They're so opposite they become similar.

Dora seemed like a random adition to the story, mainly because she could be completly removed without altering much. She felt like an accessory only written in to make an oportunity where romantic love could also be mentioned.

I don't know if the alexithymia representation was well done since I know nothibg about it and haven't seen anyone that does talking about this book. I didn't fully like the end, but didn't fully hate it either. I like the scenes where he was a small child, helpless for depending on grown ups that didin't take him seriously and trying to correspond to his mother's expectations. It made very interesting scenes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Murder, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Child abuse

daylights's review

challenging emotional inspiring 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Death, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Terminal illness, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail

ciarag88's review

emotional reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Bullying, Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Toxic friendship, Violence, and Animal cruelty

This book is so sweet and heartwarming. I had heard good reviews on this book and I am so glad I read it as I had never read a book such as this before. I love how it is fast paced and is written in short chapters. Beautifully translated, did not lose its meaning.

the ending is a bit too perfect, but it is a young adult book. The violent scene with Gon came out of nowhere also, but I am glad his mother woke up to see him evolved as she always wanted him to be

youkirmv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Murder, Mental illness, Bullying, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

dominiq_ec's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book made me cry in the ending pages, and while I don't let myself cry often, it's usually a sign of a pretty good book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Bullying, Death, Blood, Body horror, and Grief

rachjy's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Animal death, Ableism, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Cursing, and Torture

gossameralbum's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Somebody shook my shoulders. Gon was hugging me in his arms. “Don’t die. I beg you. I’ll do anything for you . . . anything . . .” Gon whimpered. He was covered in blood.

this chapter shattered me. though the ending was a bit clunky, this was such a beautiful read, it made me smile many times.
here is another part i highlighted that i found profound:

There was this day when Mom asked a question to Granny, who was carefully writing hanja for love.
“Mom, do you even know what that character means?” “Of course!” Granny glared at Mom, then in a deep low voice, she said, “Love.” “What does love mean?” Mom asked mischievously. “To discover beauty.” After Granny wrote the top part of the character , then the middle part,  (meaning “heart”), she said, “These three dots are us. This one’s mine, this one’s yours, this one’s his!”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Grief, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Medical content, and Violence

Minor: Rape

navayiota's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Yet another banger. I wish I had known earlier that there are so many great Korean authors, and I hope others won't make the same mistake as me and wait so long to explore Korean literature. I can easily see this becoming a modern classic, and it will be completely justified. Almond is a flawless exploration of disability in society, and a character study of a boy unable to feel emotions. This book had me gasping, tearing up and giggling.. highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Grief, Ableism, Abandonment, Violence, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, and Child abuse

Minor: Gun violence