Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Awakening by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham

71 reviews

tiredbutawesome's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny slow-paced

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

3.0

2014 wattpad vibes. The main characters are the most special girls in the whole wide world, and all of the men they interact with need to be put on a list somewhere.  A much more entertaining read when it’s not taken seriously 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Death

The book focuses heavily on non-consensual acts that, while not explicitly sexual, still have sexual connotations. These things are considered not only acceptable within the context of the story, but also “exciting” to the POV characters

ashleynp24's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

It was a nice and quick read that I did enjoy. I do think it started a little fast and there wasn’t a ton of buildup to the school. 

The main characters are lovable, but they need to stop being as gullible. That made parts of it hard to get through. Overall, a fun read and the ending murder did surprise me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Stalking, Death of parent, Car accident, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Classism, Blood, and Abandonment

fuent020's review against another edition

The characters aren't likeable at all. And it felt weird that everyone was so accepting of crappy behavior from the get go. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

ashsbooknook's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Violence

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Death

Minor: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Honestly the writing isn’t Shakespeare but man was I invested. Those boys are so infuriating ahhh. I can’t wait to see these girls rise because I can see the fight in them and although I feel bad for what happened I know they’ll kick ass because they’re already badass.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, Violence, and Cursing

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Murder and Child death

vclarisse's review against another edition

Poorly written, just free and unjustified bullying of the protagonists with no other plot point. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexism and Sexual content

autumnwitch14's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed the world building very much. I wish it focused more on the fantasy elements outside of just supernatural races. I wouldn't say this book is much of a romance even though it describes itself as a bullymance. Maybe later in the series, but this first one in particular barely has any outside of a little flirting (in between all of the sexual assaults)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Genocide, Incest, Abandonment, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Slavery, and Infidelity

Mind control is prevalent in this book, meaning sometimes characters are forced to do things they don't want to do.

maggies's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Okay, this is not good, but it was at least entertaining! I definitely found myself editing the book as I read, which is not a particularly pleasant experience. On the other hand, adjusting expectations for what it was—trashy fantasy/romance (I say lovingly!)—it wasn’t too bad. The inclusion of a presumably Latino character was bordering on racist, and aside from the poor writing, that was probably the worst thing about the book. This is my first experience with a kind of bully romance, and I’m not totally sure it’s for me, but I’ll probably keep reading the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content and Abandonment

matthias40's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

Genuinely looked the book. Lots of characters to get your head around, lots of sexual tension and confusion too! Couldn't put it down! Dark fantasy fiction at its best!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

jamby4546's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Stalking, Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Drowning mention