Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Reputation by Lex Croucher

60 reviews

maggies's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.0

I've heard Reputation recommended over the Bridgerton series, and I have to say I agree. Both Regency-era romance novels, Reputation sets itself apart from Bridgerton by leaning into anachronistic social norms and turns of phrase (much like the recent Persuasion adaptation with Dakota Johnson, which I also very much enjoyed) and questioning the racism and classism of the time, as well as the ultra focus on virginity and purity.  If you're looking for a well-researched historical romance, this probably isn't it. In fact, while it might technically classify as a romance, adherents of the genre might be disappointed, as the romance is really more a subplot in Georgiana's story, though it was no less satisfying to me! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Homophobia, Slavery, and Racism

jupitermond's review against another edition

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

1.5

This book is terribly written. I'm not referring to the content here, but to the style of it all. With a better editor, this book could have been okay at least. I can't even begin to get upset at the plot, because it's all just so superficial. You can't even begin to start caring about the characters. There is simply not enough to hold onto to either love nor hate them. They've got character traits, sure, but they're not characters. We are being told so much through the narration that could (and should!) have been shown. It's quite impressive that a book can be 400 pages long and have so little to say. 

The acknowledgements claim that the author is trying to show a multicultural Britain: she is doing this by having one (1) mixed Black character and one (1) mixed character of Indian descent. Their origins are adressed exactly once each, in a manner so half-hearted that it would have been better if the author hadn't bothered at all. Instead, you are left with glimpses in what could have been interesting stories, but the moment passes within half a page.

The only redeeming feature is that the bare bones are good, which is also the most galling of it all. I had hoped it would end up with something to say, which is the sole reason I finished it, but no.

tl;dr: the author was trying to write Regency Mean Girls without understanding what made Mean Girls good and fun.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death of parent and Rape

Minor: Racism

amberinpieces's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Blood, Classism, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Animal death, Biphobia, Body shaming, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Vomit

jencolumb0's review against another edition

adventurous 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

Frankly, I was hoping for more of a romp. It’s a well-written, modernized Regacy romance but it is not what I would call “escapist”. I am interested to see what this author does next, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent

Someone’s drink is drugged without their knowledge at a party

kayteslibrary's review against another edition

lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault and Homophobia

Minor: Death of parent and Death

aeopritchard's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, Blood, Rape, and Drug use

anouks_books's review

funny fast-paced

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

5.0

A really fun book that sucked me in immediately. I loved how modern aspects were incorporated in the Regency-era setting, e.g. what drunk texting a crush might look like in that time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Death

allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective tense slow-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

3.0

Inspired by Mean Girls, this regency story has all the casual cruelty and grappling for social currency that one would expect. The references are complete with a chapter that begins, "Get in, Georgiana. We're going shopping." Frances Campbell is our Queen Bee, and protagonist Georgiana is eager to become her latest sycophant, wanting an injection of reckless fun into her boring summer. The book showcases characters with a complete disregard for social norms whereas most regency romps only manage tepid or pointed departures from what is socially acceptable. Envision illicit drugs of all types, nude frolicking, and a complete lack of chaperones. The story takes a look at how a certain level of class and money excuses all else. The constraints on the behavior of middle and lower-class persons are mere suggestions for the elite, easy to ignore when the consequences are so ephemeral. This is another way it sets itself apart from historical fiction that emphasizes social pressures on aristocrats.

The story has a quick, biting wit akin to Georgiana's own subversive, barbed remarks. Several funny asides made me laugh aloud. Also, letter banter is the BEST banter, and this one delivers in that category 100%. I was unconvinced of the central romance plot til the correspondence started up halfway through, and then I suddenly found myself on board. It was that high quality.

While reading, my stress level was high, even though I knew all the bad decisions and situations were building up to a lesson to be learned. It comes at a steep price for many characters involved. The emphasis on needing to be cool or seem above everyone else made me cringe, with side helpings of peer pressure and harassment, bullying and exclusionary tactics. Add in quick judgments and nasty put-downs to make oneself feel superior. It offers a deep view of the root causes of the characters' behaviors. For example, our protagonist Georgiana is spinning out in bitter rebellion after being abandoned by cold, distant parents. She seeks affection and belonging at any cost.

There are several content warnings of note for this story: sexual assault on-page and other incidents that occur off-page with physical and psychological harm explored, gaslighting and victim-blaming following claims of assault, racism and slavery, homophobia/lesbophobia, domestic abuse, toxic relationships, a lot of alcohol and other substance abuse, and parental neglect. The author takes a worthy stand on the proper response to assault claims and offers a glimpse into a diverse regency world hampered by prejudice but not whitewashed or offering queer characters as mere sidekicks. It's an interesting book that manages to be difficult to read at some points, uproariously funny at others, sometimes reflective and other times barreling forward. It was a compelling read, and I am curious to see what the author does next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Classism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, and Animal cruelty

jkpiowa's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Bullying

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

katygurll's review against another edition

funny medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Alcoholism