Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

73 reviews

rachaelm13's review

challenging dark emotional lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

Wow, went into this book with very little info expecting a cute rom com. Came out with a rather heavy at times piece of literature. 

(Lots of trigger warnings in this book)

The writing was very good. I’m struggling what to rate this because the impeccable writing is whats bringing it up for me. The actual story concept was done as well as it possibly could have been done I’m just not sure I like the concept itself. I’m not a huge fan of second chance romance but if its going to happen therapy needs to happen and it did in this book so that was a check ✅

The two timelines keeps you reading because it flip flops between the two. I didn’t want to put this book down while I was reading but I didn’t have a hug draw to pick it up all the time until halfway probably. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

Minor: Eating disorder

fabs2510's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Mental illness, Stalking, and Addiction

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Vomit, and Emotional abuse

kathrynreadsbooks_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Grief, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape

shawnna_reads2's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity

kaytrain's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Rape, Car accident, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

bethsbooketlist's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

🌟🌟🌟🌟-  My third Beth O Leary and though it wasn't my favourite, I still enjoyed this one. I felt in this book, Beth went into quite dark and toxic themes in comparison to some of her other books. It was quite difficult to read at times.  The relationships pretty much across the whole novel were really unhealthy, and I was a bit unsure about the ending because of this. But having said that, I think it tackled important subjects especially looking at the damage these relationships can do to people's mental health and wellbeing. I also find Beth's writing really easy and smooth sailing so I can always devour her books in a couple of days. Overall, an interesting read but not my favourite 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual assault

shaipanda's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful

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

3.5

This book made me violentttt
So one of my best friends recommended this book because she loveddd it and while I understand why she did - I definitely didn’t as much
I think for me one of the major things was just how unlikeable all the characters are? Literally besides Deb every single other major character is incredibly unlikeable at one point or another - and that’s especiallyyy true with Marcus 
Like truly what an absolute piece of shit 
Anyways - overall I’m glad I read this for the most part and saw what my friend meant but also ya definitely not 100% for me 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Stalking

kayji's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, and Stalking

jmannucci's review

adventurous emotional tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Addiction, and Emotional abuse

mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective 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

I enjoyed reading The Road Trip. Beth O’Leary blends romance with heavy in a way that worked for me. I thought the road trip element was a lighthearted romp that was evened out by the heavier elements of the “then” storyline. I think if this book had been fully one or the other the storylines would have been too much, but together they work. 

I had some issues with Marcus.

Namely, that Dylan would remain friends or friendly with him after all the abuse Addie suffered, when Dylan broke up with Addie at the drop of a hat for maaaaybe cheating on him (all he had was a sketchy photo of a guys leg on her thigh? And Marcus had literal years of emotional/verbal abuse on Dylan and Addie? I dunno. This part just left me feeling complicated.

A quick read and not too bad. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Vomit, and Stalking

Minor: Emotional abuse, Car accident, and Pregnancy