Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

36 reviews

no_knees's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad 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

The plot twist is actually insane, kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading, one of my favorite books of all time! Had me all emotional towards the end, but I read it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Animal death, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

Devastating. Honestly, I don't know if I can put into words the feelings this book stirred up within me.
I suppose I should start by saying that I don't read sad books. Like, ever. And when I do, it is by accident and begrudgingly. And NEVER in the "hurt-no-comfort" category. Because I don't like being sad on purpose. Period.
However, a friend of mine gifted me this book when she moved, and after all the hype surrounding it when it came out, and of course the intriguing premise, I knew I was going to have to just power through and give it a chance.
Even though I knew it would be devastating.
And even when I reached the halfway mark and guessed at the truth hidden underneath the lies -- at which point, I knew for certain that I was going to be, you guessed it: devastated -- I wanted to finish it. To feel it and live it with Cady.
Oh, my poor, sweet Cady. How I wish I could just wrap you up in the biggest of hugs.

All in all, this is an excellent book. Devastating, yes. But exquisitely told. Grief is explored in every aspect. And as much as we would all rather avoid this kind of heartache, it comes for each of us. And this book does an amazing job of taking the reader through the process of pain, acceptance, healing, denial, and hope that surfaces even as the wounds turn to scars and the phantom pains set in. I can't say that I loved this book, because it's still so fresh and raw and, well, painful. But I needed it. My soul needed it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Classism, Death, Grief, and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Animal death, Gaslighting, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol

nagaakil's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Dementia, Racism, and Self harm

florenceassetto's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

loved the book, and i will admit that the twist was something i did not see coming! the love between all characters felt so real and so raw and it is something i think was really special 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death, and Animal death

Moderate: Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Racism and Addiction

fcksnotfound's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Grief, Drug use, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Dementia and Death

Minor: Racism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Animal death

warlockdorian's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

emmaprobasco's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

oliviastewart716's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

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

I have so much to say about this and nothing to say about this at the same time. Just like, why would you right this? It wasn’t terrible, I just don’t know what the intention was here.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Alcohol, Child death, Grief, Medical trauma, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Blood

Minor: Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment

profilernewt07's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

It was an alright read, I detested the main characters inner dialogue and how she was chasing after a boy who was already involved in a relationship. The plot twist wasn’t overall shocking and the foreshadowing was abundantly clear from the start, overall wasn’t great, but wasn’t bad either.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This was soo good, the mystery and intrigue was *chef’s kiss* fantastic, and the character development (particularly of Cadence) was really well done.

 I definitely hadn’t expected that ending or the twist but will say, if you’re prone to sobbing during books (like me) then definitely have some tissues handy cause it gets pretty emotional. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Racism, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism